Reporting note: this article draws on philstar.com; LodiScore provides the summary and editorial framing.
Ricci Rivero sparks Phoenix in decisive fourth quarter surge
Phoenix took a firm step toward the PBA Governors’ Cup playoffs on Friday at the Ynares Center in Antipolo, claiming a 105-101 victory over Meralco. Ricci Rivero sparks Phoenix with an all-around performance down the stretch, driving a fourth-quarter turnaround that disrupted the Bolts’ defensive structure.
The victory carried immediate postseason consequences for the Fuel Masters, who improved to a 5-3 win-loss slate in Group B. With two elimination round assignments remaining, Phoenix climbed directly behind group leader Magnolia Hotshots. Meralco, meanwhile, saw its preliminary round come to a close with an even 4-6 record.
Rivero directed the Phoenix offense through high-leverage possessions, finishing with 26 points, nine rebounds, seven assists, three steals, and two blocks. New import Marcellus Earlington stepped onto the floor for his league debut and delivered an immediate interior presence, adding 20 points, 14 rebounds, and five assists.
Late nine point run shatters Antipolo deadlock
Neither team managed separation through the middle stages of the final frame. Meralco stayed within striking distance through Jordan Varnado, whose slam dunk trimmed the Fuel Masters' advantage to 92-91 with 5:15 remaining on the clock.
Phoenix responded with its sharpest offensive stretch of the night. Rivero, rookie Kai Ballungay, Earlington, and Gian Mamuyac linked up for nine unanswered points over the next three minutes. That run created a 101-91 cushion with just 2:38 left to play.
Varnado attempted to stage a solo rescue for Meralco, but Earlington answered with a contested basket inside to keep the margin at 103-93 with 1:33 remaining. The Bolts created several chances on subsequent possessions, but perimeter misses from Varnado, Jason Brickman, Bong Quinto, and CJ Cansino stalled the rally.
Balanced scoring supports Fuel Masters late push
While Varnado and Quinto converted late 4-point field goals around an Earlington layup, the late deficit proved too steep for the Bolts to overcome before time expired. Phoenix relied heavily on balanced scoring alongside its primary leaders to hold off the late charge.
The offensive contributions behind Rivero and Earlington kept Phoenix stable in late-game execution:
- Kai Ballungay: Provided steady scoring across four quarters, finishing with 17 points.
- Ken Tuffin: Paced the perimeter rotation with 16 markers.
- Gian Mamuyac: Generated tempo in transition and contributed 13 points.
- Tyler Tio: Handled backcourt duties and chipped in 10 points.
Playoff positioning shifts across Group B standings
Varnado recorded a game-high 36 points, seven rebounds, four assists, two blocks, and a steal for Meralco, but lacked sustained late-game support. Cansino produced 18 points off the bench, while Quinto and Brickman contributed 14 and 10 points, respectively.
The final buzzer placed Meralco in a waiting game for playoff seeding, having completed all 10 of its group matches. Phoenix maintains control of its destiny in the top half of the standings, needing sharp execution in its remaining two fixtures to lock up a favorable quarterfinal seeding.
Game details and scoring records were originally reported by philstar.com.
