RJ Jazul’s hot-shooting helps Phoenix snap SMB’s 4-game winning streak

By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña

RJ Jazul was unconscious from deep the whole game and unloaded 9 three-point bombs to help the Phoenix Super LPG Fuelmasters prevail over the defending champions San Miguel Beermen, 110-103.

Coach Topex Robinson looked to his bench after Matthew Wright and Calvin Abueva weren’t shooting the ball well and Jazul answered the call and even exceeded the expectation of the Phoenix coaching staff.

It was a back-and-forth affair between the two storied franchises but Jazul was there to answer each SMB basket with his own.

Jazul’s timely three-pointers provided his team just enough breathing room in the final two minutes of the game for them to hold on with the win.

The offensive-minded star from the Letran Knights finished with a career-high 33 points while main gunner Wright only had 10.

With the impressive win, the Fuelmasters halted the Beermen’s hot four-game winning streak while improving to 6-3 following its second straight win.

Despite solid performances from Moala Tautuaa, Alex Cabagnot, and Marcio Lassiter, who scored 21, 20, 20 respectively, the Beermen still fell short and allowed the hot-handed Jazul to take over the game.

“We know that SMB is a championship-caliber team. Whoever is there has a pride to prove that they are really champions. They’ve been through a lot of battles. Kami, medyo bata pa kami as a team. Sa amin lang, it’s always trying to keep reminding everyone, even myself, to do what we prepared for, keep our game plan. I just love how the guys stepped up,” said Phoenix head coach Robinson.