Jul 19, 2026
PHOENIX Super LPG is off to a 3-0 start in a conference for the first time in a long, long while.
Robert Johnson continued to inspire, Ricci Rivero sustained his rise and Phoenix kept its hot, unbeaten start in the PBA Season 50 Governors’ Cup with an 81-78 win over the injury-hit Barangay Ginebra Kings Sunday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
“We wanted to try to catch them off guard as it’s their first game in the conference and they’re playing with a new import. We tried to step on the gas,” said Phoenix coach Charles Tiu after scalping Ginebra in a follow-up to their earlier wins over Magnolia and Meralco.
Johnson was a big reason as the Fuel Masters continued to win against established, fancied ball clubs.
“We’re having a little luck and we don’t want to let it slip away. Ginebra is a different team out there without their MVPs. They don’t have Scottie Thompson and they don’t have Justin Brownlee. We’re close to choking and we’re happy nanalo pa rin kami,” said Tiu.
Johnson piled up 23 points and 11 rebounds, Rivero collected 16 and nine while Kai Ballungay and Jason Perkins chipped in 12 and 10, respectively, as the Fuel Masters got back at the team that eliminated them in the quarterfinals in the last Commissioner’s Cup.
The Fuel Masters actually nearly blew away a 19-point spread, escaping through as Jonathan Gray missed a four-pointer at the buzzer.
Debuting Ginebra import Riley Grigsby had game-highs of 42 points and 13 rebounds, capping his game with buckets that brought Ginebra back into the fight late in the game.
But Ginebra just really lacked the punch in the absence of Thompson and Brownlee.
Not a single Ginebra local scored in double figures, with Gray being the top scorer with nine on a woeful 3-of-14 field shooting.
Sponsored content:
RJ Abarrientos bled for eight on 3-of-16 clip.(SB)
