The early storyline of the Philippine Basketball Association Commissioner’s Cup is quickly turning into the surprising rise of the Phoenix Super LPG Fuel Masters.

Phoenix delivered its most convincing performance yet by crushing Titan Ultra, 109-76, on Sunday, March 15, at the Ynares Center. The dominant victory pushed the Fuel Masters to a 2-0 start in the conference, tying Terrafirma for the early lead in the standings.

More importantly, the win confirmed that Phoenix’s opening-night upset of Magnolia was no fluke. Behind balanced scoring, strong rebounding, and a decisive fourth-quarter surge, the Fuel Masters looked every bit like a contender in the early phase of the conference.

For basketball fans following the league, Phoenix’s fast start has become one of the biggest surprises of the young tournament. The team’s early success also highlights how competitive the Commissioner’s Cup race can quickly become.

Balanced attack powers Phoenix blowout

Phoenix controlled the game from the opening quarter and never allowed Titan to fully recover. The Fuel Masters quickly built a 21-point lead and maintained control through consistent offense and solid defense.

Ricci Rivero led the charge with 18 points, while import James Dickey delivered another dominant performance inside with 17 points and 17 rebounds. Their steady production helped Phoenix dictate the pace throughout the contest.

Ken Tuffin also contributed 17 points while Bryan Santos added 13 markers highlighted by three triples. The scoring balance ensured that every Titan attempt to close the gap was immediately answered.

Evan Nelle delivered the decisive spark in the fourth quarter as he finished with 14 points, all scored in the final period. The guard drilled three four-pointers during a blistering 16-2 run that stretched Phoenix’s lead to 89-66 and effectively sealed the outcome.

Tiu pleased with Phoenix’s strong start

New head coach Charles Tiu admitted that the team’s perfect start exceeded expectations. Winning two straight games in the PBA, especially against quality opponents, is never an easy task.

“Being part of the PBA these past years, it’s hard to win any game against any team,” Tiu said after the victory. “So we’re happy that we were able to go and get back-to-back wins this weekend.”

The coach also acknowledged that their victory over Magnolia helped build the team’s confidence early in the conference. The Fuel Masters had entered the tournament with modest expectations but have quickly emerged as one of the early leaders.

“Somewhat unexpected kasi nga we were able to upset Magnolia so we’re just thankful that we’re 2-0,” he added.

Ballungay injury clouds big win

Despite the blowout result, Phoenix’s night was not without concern as Kai Ballungay sprained his left ankle late in the third quarter. The forward did not return for the remainder of the game.

Ballungay joined injured teammates Jason Perkins and Tyler Tio on the sidelines, leaving the Fuel Masters shorthanded in the latter part of the contest. The team still managed to maintain its rhythm despite the depleted rotation.

Phoenix continued to execute well on both ends of the floor, relying on depth and balanced scoring to close out the victory. Those same factors have played a major role in the team’s early success.

Titan still searching for first win

For Titan Ultra, the defeat dropped the team to 0-2 in the Commissioner’s Cup and highlighted its ongoing offensive struggles. The Giant Risers were unable to generate consistent scoring beyond their import.

Michael Gilmore posted an impressive stat line of 27 points and 20 rebounds but also committed 10 turnovers during the game. His effort kept Titan competitive for stretches but ultimately could not shift the momentum.

Joshua Munzon added nine points but also committed seven turnovers as Titan struggled to find offensive rhythm. No other player from the Giant Risers reached double figures.

Titan showed brief signs of life in the middle quarters as it trimmed a large deficit to 59-53 and later to 69-62. The team even entered the fourth quarter trailing by just nine points at 73-64.

However, Nelle’s explosive shooting display in the final period quickly erased any hopes of a comeback. Phoenix pulled away decisively and secured its most convincing win of the young conference.