The Phoenix Fuel Masters and the Blackwater Bossing are set to play each other to end the workweek, and their respective schedules in this conference. While they’re not making the playoffs, the Fuel Masters and the Bossing must still want to win this matchup for at least a positive ending to their otherwise unremarkable campaigns.
Catch this game live on Friday, June 13, 2025 at 5:00 pm, Manila time.
Phoenix Fuel Masters (3-7)
Projected Starting Five:
- RJ Jazul
- Tyler Tio
- Kenneth Tuffin
- Jason Perkins
- Kai Ballungay
The conference is coming to a close for the Fuel Masters, but do they have enough gas in the tank to fight through a virtually meaningless game with nothing on the line but pride? In any case, Phoenix will look to cap its campaign on a positive note by completing back-to-back wins for what would be the first time in the Philippine Cup. The Fuel Masters are coming off a 118-107 victory over the NorthPort Batang Pier, snapping a four-game losing skid.
Although they are out of playoff contention, the Fuel Masters have collected two quality wins earlier in the conference. Their other wins came at the expense of the Meralco Bolts and the TNT Tropang 5G, teams that have already secured tickets to the next phase. Jason Perkins led Phoenix in the Batang Pier game with 26 points while the promising Kai Ballungay had 17 points and nine rebounds. Meanwhile, Ricci Rivero and RJ Jazul combined for 24 points off the bench.
Blackwater Bossing (2-8)
Projected Starting Five:
- RK Ilagan
- Sedrick Barefield
- BJ Andrade
- Bradwyn Guinto
- Richard Escoto
Blackwater finally ended its nightmarish six-game losing skid with a 97-82 win over the Terrafirma Dyip. Beating Terrafirm isn’t really something to be proud of since everyone’s done it. Well, except the Fuel Masters. Nevertheless, that win gave Blackwater some momentum going into the Phoenix matchup.
Richard Escoto pumped in 21 points for Blackwater versus the Dyip, while former Butler Bulldogs forward Christian David churned out 19 points. Sedrick Barefield and RK Ilagan each scored 12 points for the Bossing, who averaged 85.6 points in their last three outings.
With the likes of David and Barefield, the Bossing have a talented duo that, on paper, is capable of inflicting heavy damage on opponents, but it’s probably going to take some more time for their talents to translate into wins for Blackwater, which is taking a step back in this edition of the Philippine Cup. The Bossing won four games in the 2024 version of the conference.
Picks
Spread: Phoenix Fuel Masters (-4.5)
Over/Under: Over (197.5)
