Phoenix Super LPG proved that its unbeaten start is no fluke, weathering a furious late rally from Barangay Ginebra San Miguel to escape with an 81-78 victory and extend its winning streak to three games in the PBA Season 50 Governor’s Cup on Sunday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The Fuelmasters entered the matchup with an opportunity to seize sole possession of the Group B lead and capitalized on a Ginebra squad still adjusting to a new import while missing star guard Scottie Thompson.
Phoenix dictated the tempo for most of the contest before surviving a dramatic finish sparked by Riley Grigsby, whose spectacular debut nearly turned the game around.
Import BJ Johnson once again provided the offensive spark for Phoenix, finishing with 23 points, while Ricci Rivero continued his strong campaign with 16 points and nine rebounds in a balanced effort that lifted the Fuelmasters to a perfect 3-0 record.
Phoenix head coach Charles Tiu admitted his team wanted to take advantage of the circumstances surrounding Ginebra.
“We wanted to try to catch them off guard,” said Phoenix coach Charles Tiu.
“It’s the first game with [a new] import and wala is Scottie Thompson. We wanted to step on the gas and they’re Ginebra for a reason. They didn’t wanna quit and they made a big scare,” he added.
The Fuelmasters appeared to have the game under control after stretching the lead to 81-74 with only 18 seconds left, but Grigsby had other plans.
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Riley Grigsby said the biggest differences between the NBA G League and the PBA are the rules and spacing on the floor, but stressed that the level of competition remains high. pic.twitter.com/WFry5RDkSf
— Fastbreak (@fastbreaknewsph) July 19, 2026
Making an immediate impact in his first game for Barangay Ginebra, the American import knocked down back-to-back baskets to slash the deficit to just three points with six seconds remaining, giving the Gin Kings one last opportunity to steal the game.
Ginebra’s final possession, however, fell short when Jeremiah Gray missed a three-point attempt that could have either forced overtime or delivered a stunning victory via the league’s four-point shot, allowing Phoenix to hold on for the win.
Despite the loss, Grigsby announced his arrival in impressive fashion by pouring in 42 points in his debut. His scoring outburst kept Ginebra within striking distance throughout the closing stretch, but the Gin Kings ultimately dropped their first game with their new reinforcement.
Compounding Ginebra’s frustrations, head coach Tim Cone was ejected late in the contest after receiving his second technical foul.
With momentum firmly on its side, Phoenix now turns its attention to Rain or Shine on Tuesday, July 21, aiming to stretch its unbeaten run to four games. Ginebra, meanwhile, will look to bounce back when it faces Blackwater on Friday, July 24.
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