James Dickey III made an immediate impact in his PBA debut, powering the Fuel Masters to a 101-98 victory over the Hotshots in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium on Friday, March 13. He finished with 20 points and a game-high 26 rebounds, while also contributing five assists, one block and one steal.

The UNC Greensboro product constantly rallied his teammates, providing energy and leadership throughout the game. Phoenix relied on its local core for support, with Jason Perkins scoring 19 points. Kai Ballungay and Ken Tuffin added 12 each, while Ricci Rivero and Evan Nelle chipped in 10 points apiece.

Fuel Masters survive late Hotshots rally

Phoenix lost a nine-point lead early in the game but regrouped in the third quarter to regain control. The Fuel Masters looked headed for a comfortable win after establishing a 13-point advantage midway through the fourth period.

Magnolia mounted a late surge led by Jerom Lastimosa, trimming the deficit in the closing minutes. Phoenix held firm defensively, producing key stops that allowed Charles Tiu to secure a winning debut as PBA head coach.

Omot leads Hotshots in losing effort

Magnolia import Nuni Omot led the Hotshots with 27 points, six rebounds and three assists despite five turnovers. Zavi Lucero and Lastimosa added 19 and 18 points respectively to support the late rally.

Omot was a last-minute replacement for Terrell Brown-Soares and returned to the Philippines after previously competing with the South Sudan national team at the 2023 FIBA World Cup. Despite their late push, the Hotshots fell short as the Fuel Masters opened their campaign with a strong win.