By Michael Angelo S. Murillo, Senior Reporter
EARLY Philippine Basketball Association Governors’ Cup leaders Phoenix Fuel Masters and Alaska Aces collide in the main game today at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in a match that will also see former Aces star Calvin Abueva take on his former team for the first time.
Meeting after they parted ways in the in-between conference break, Mr. Abueva looks to help Phoenix (2-0) get the better of Alaska (2-0) in their scheduled 7 p.m. encounter and keep their unblemished record intact in the season-ending PBA conference while sending the Aces to their first defeat.
The Fuel Masters are off to a solid start in the ongoing tournament led by returning import Eugene Phelps.
Mr. Phelps has been steady for Phoenix, averaging 40 points, 16 rebounds and six blocks in their victories over Columbian Dyip and NorthPort Batang Pier in that order.
Mr. Abueva, too, has kicked off his new journey with the Fuel Masters on the right foot with all-around numbers of 12 points, 9.5 rebounds, four assists, two blocks, and 1.5 steals per game. These are apart from the energy and hustle he gives coming off the bench for the Louie Alas-coached team.
Also having it steady for the Fuel Masters are Matthew Wright, Jason Perkins, LA Revilla, and RJ Jazul.
Against Northport on Sunday, Phoenix was just unrelenting as it raced to a 132-91 victory to make it 2-of-2 in the Governors’ Cup.
Facing his former team for the first time, Mr. Abueva said he is looking forward to the game and expects it to be an exciting contest.
“It’s a good matchup. It’s going to be an exciting game. Looking forward to enjoying it,” said Mr. Abueva of his highly anticipated first encounter with Alaska, where he spent his first six years in the PBA and won a championship with.
EXTENDING THE STREAK
Alaska, on the other hand, seeks to extend its good start that has seen it make a strong case as one of the teams to watch out for.
The Aces have been doing it with a balanced attack with import Mike Harris leading the charge.
Mr. Harris, making his first tour of duty in the PBA, is posting numbers of 19.5 points and 19.5 rebounds per contest.
Backstopping him are guards Simon Enciso (20.5 ppg) and Chris Banchero (14 ppg, 9.5 apg and 6 rpg) and forward Vic Manuel (14 ppg and 6.5 rpg) to help the Aces to their good start.
Like Phoenix, Alaska is coming off a huge victory over TNT Ka-Tropa, 125-96, on Sunday where it dominated all throughout the match, towed by the hot shooting of Mr. Enciso, who hit nine triples in the game.
That fiery shooting against the KaTropa earned Mr. Enciso the player of the week honors.
“We hope to sustain the kind of character we showed today in our next games,” Alaska coach Alex Compton said after their win over TNT.
“Our focus now is on Phoenix because they are also playing well. We will prepare against them,” he added.
Playing in the 4:30 p.m. opener, meanwhile, are the NLEX Road Warriors (1-2) and Columbian Dyip (0-2).

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