PHOENIX Super LPG secured a twice-to-beat advantage in the quarterfinals following a decisive 93-83 victory over the Meralco Bolts in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum.

Jason Perkins finished with a game-high 22 points on 9-of-13 shooting on top of eight rebounds in 40 minutes of action for the Fuel Masters, who maintained their composure even after the Bolts narrowed the gap to only five, 83-88, with 2:56 left in the fourth quarter.

Import Johnathan Williams contributed a double-double of 19 points, 15 rebounds and five assists during his 46-minute playing time.

Tyler Tio added 15 points, while RJ Jazul had 13 points, five rebounds, and three assists for the Fuel Masters of coach Jamike Jarin.

With the Bolts threatening at 83-88, Jazul extended their lead by sinking a three-pointer to make it 91-83 with 1:16 remaining.

Perkins’ offensive rebound and put-back on Williams’ missed lay-up sealed the victory for the Fuel Masters.

With the win, the Fuel Masters improved to 8-2.

In a losing effort for Meralco, Shonn Miller finished with 19 points on 9-of-14 shooting and grabbed nine rebounds during his 39 minutes on the court for coach Luigi Trillo.

Chris Banchero contributed 15 points, four rebounds, and four assists, and Chris Newsome recorded 13 points, seven assists, and five rebounds.

Bong Quinto also had 10 points.

Later, NLEX outsteadied Converge, 107-103, behind Deandre Williams-Baldwin’s 22 points, 15 rebounds and seven assists.

Meanwhile, Andrei Caracut feels right at home now with Rain or Shine.

In his third season with the franchise that selected him in the second round of the 2021 PBA Draft, the 5-11 guard has taken a more active role in the rotation of coach Yeng Guiao at times as a starter, but usually as the one who finishes the game at the point.

And that was none more obvious than in the Elasto Painters’ all-important 119-112 win over TNT Tropang Giga that clinched for them a berth in the quarterfinals.

The former UAAP Rookie of the Year out of De La Salle had eight of his 23 points in the fourth quarter and was part of the unit that went on an 11-0 run in the homestretch that finally took the fight out of the Tropang Giga.

Caracut added four assists and two rebounds in Rain or Shine’s fifth straight win in an amazing turnaround that saw the Elasto Painters lost their first five games.

Caracut’s numbers clinched for him the PBA Press Corps-Pilipinas Live Player of the Week for the period Jan. 5-7.

The scores:

First game

Phoenix (93) — Perkins 22, Williams 19, Tio 15, Jazul 13, Tuffin 6, Mocon 5, Rivero 5, Alejandro 4, Verano 2, Manganti 2, Camacho 0, Siyud 0, Garcia 0.
Meralco (83) — Miller 19, Banchero 15, Newsome 13, Quinto 10, Black 8, Almazan 8, Rios 5, Hodge 5, Pascual 0, Maliksi 0, Bates 0, Caram 0.
Quarterscores: 31-19, 54-47, 78-66, 93-83.

Second game

NLEX (107) – Williams-Baldwin 22, Valdez 19, Bolick 15, Anthony 14, Rodger 14, Nermal 12, Miranda 6, Herndon 5, Salado 0, Fajardo 0, Semerad 0.
Converge (103) – Wilson 50, Arana 19, Fornilos 8, Melecio 5, Nieto 5, Stockton 4, Fleming 4, Wong 4, Winston 2, Maagdenberg 2, Ambohot 0, Delos Santos 0, Santos 0.
Quarterscores: 25-22, 51-43, 80-81, 107-103.

Games Friday:

(Smart Araneta Coliseum)
4 p.m.– San Miguel vs Blackwater
8 p.m. — Meralco vs. Terrafirma