Games Wednesday:

(Smart Araneta Coliseum)

4:30 p.m. --  NLEX  vs. Blackwater

7 p.m. -- Rain or Shine vs. Magnolia

PHOENIX is rising.

With import Eugene Phelps providing the spark, Phoenix defeated Magnolia Pambansang Manok, 95-82, in a duel of  two of the hottest teams in the PBA Governors Cup at the  Smart Araneta Coliseum. 

Phelps finished  with  monster numbers of  36 points and 20 rebounds and four blocks, but it was  his leadership that spelled the difference in  the Fuel Masters’ third  straight win  and  fifth  in  six matches overall.

It was  Phoenix’s best  start to a  conference  in  franchise  history.

Before  beating  the  Hotshots, the Louie Alas-mentored Fuel Masters  have also  won their last two outings --  96-86 vs Meralco last Sept 19  and 112-82 against Talk N Text last Aug. 31.

Magnolia  went down to  its first loss in three outings.

“Finally we beat  Magnolia, which one of the best teams, especially  on defense,” said  Alas after the  game.

“And were able to clamp down on  their offensive guys especially in the third quarter,” he added.

The 28-year-old Phelps, who long PBA resume included a rare triple double of 37 points, 23 rebounds in 10 assists in a runaway 135-108 win over NorthPort last June, almost singlehandedly did it all in the payoff period.

His two free throws put Phoenix ahead, 73-67, at the start of the fourth  quarter, his dunk shot made it  87-75 with 3:34 left and two more charities gave the team 89-80 lead with 1:49 remaining.

Matthew Wright added 13 points, five rebounds, and four assists   and Justin Chua  contributed 12 points,  eight rebounds, and three blocks for  Phoenix, which   held   Magnolia   scoreless for  almost   five  long  minutes   to increase a   precarious  three-point lead    with  still 10 minutes left in the game to 10 points  with 5:33 remaining.

Calvin Abueva had nine points, 10 rebounds and five assists in  less than 29 minutes on the  floor.

Romeo  Travis  led    Magnolia  with  a double-double with 28 points  and 19 rebounds.

Mark Barroca,  Ian  Sangalang and   Jio   Jalalon   added  11  points each.

Jalalon, however, foule dout with still five minutes left.

Actually, Phoenix  played better  with  33-of-71   shooting for 46  percent  against  Magnolia’s  29-of-90   for  only 32 percent.

And while  both teams  almost had identical numbers in rebounds, assists and  steals, Phoenix had 11 blocks against only two by Magnolia.

The scores:

Phoenix (95) --Phelps 36, Wright 13, Chua 12, Abueva 9, Revilla 9, Jazul 9, Perkins 7, Intal 0, Wilson 0.

Magnolia (82)-- Travis 28, Barroca 11, Sangalang 11, Jalalon 11, Lee 8, Ramos 6, Dela Rosa 3, Melton 2, Gamalinda 2, Pascual 0, Reavis 0, Brondial 0, Herndon 0.

Quarterscores: 30-19, 48-48, 71-67, 95-82.