When Phoenix shocked PBA fans everywhere by beating GlobalPort from 23 points down entering the 4th quarter on Wednesday, it was worth checking out the previous weeks to see how many more of these stupefying victories happened.
In the past four weeks alone, five games were decided by a spirited late-game rally — or an epic choke job, whichever you prefer.
Alaska and Phoenix appear to have supplanted Barangay Ginebra as the signature never-say-die teams, as they appear twice in the list below.
Some say the problem with using the quotient system is teams go into games looking to blow out their opponents.
Alaska 95, GlobalPort 84
December 7
This marked the return of Calvin Abueva, who had to skip a few games to recover from a torn quadriceps. Together with JV Casio, Abueva helped Alaska battle back from a 16-point, third-quarter deficit and neutralize GlobalPort's hot-shooting duo of Terrence Romeo and Stanley Pringle.
From playing behind 63-47, Alaska was able to close the gap to 65-62 to end the third quarter. The two teams traded baskets until Casio's bucket at the 3:46 mark of the fourth quarter put Alaska ahead 79-78. Casio added a couple of long-range shots and Abueva scored in close range to put the game out of reach.
Alaska outscored GlobalPort 33-19 in the fourth quarter for its first win after two losses.
Alaska 81, Meralco 79
December 14
Meralco was already smelling victory when Reynel Hugnatan's two-pointer made it 77-68 with less than three minutes left. On ordinary days, that would've been a safe lead. But a series of crazy events ensued that would make this one of the best games of the tournament.
Alaska unloaded a 10-0 run backstopped by three-pointers from Casio and RJ Jazul to seize the lead 78-77 with 32 seconds left. Remember when sports broadcasters would refer to this part of the game as "still an eternity of basketball?" Well, it sure felt like it.
After a timeout and a couple of substitutions, Meralco's Jonathan Grey barreled his way to the basket for a layup to make it 79-78 with 15 seconds on the clock. Again, some subs and a timeout enabled Alaska to draw up one last play. On a night of big-shot makers, it was Chris Banchero who provided the most important one, draining a corner triple with 5 seconds remaining to shove Alaska ahead 81-79, eventually the final score.
"Down by nine in the last two minutes, I told the guys 'Hey, we have time. One at a time, we've done this before,' " Alaska coach Alex Compton said on the PBA website.
Phoenix 94, Meralco 90
December 21
Phoenix was shorthanded in this one but, despite the handicap, it got the job done against Meralco.
Matthew Wright stepped up to fill the void left by JC Intal and Willie Wilson, who were out for health reasons. The rookie scored 22 points, 17 of which came in the decisive fourth quarter where Phoenix stormed back from 12 points down to beat Meralco, 94-90.
Phoenix trailed 71-59 midway through the third quarter and 75-65 entering the fourth before Wright and veteran Cyrus Baguio fuel-mastered the comeback.
It was a perfect morale-booster for Phoenix, which had suffered humiliating losses in the two games prior.
Rain Or Shine 107, NLEX 97
December 23
This was a highly anticipated encounter between Yeng Guiao's NLEX and his former team Rain Or Shine.
At first, it looked like Guiao's NLEX, which has struggled in this tournament, would take the win after posting an early 12-point lead over Rain Or Shine. NLEX still appeared to be in control in the fourth quarter but, unlike the previous comeback stories that were fast and furious, Rain Or Shine was methodical coming out of this hole.
Rain Or Shine outscored NLEX 27-12 in the fourth to complete the job.
"We already expected it to be hard game. S'yempre bagong team ni coach Yeng and they wanted to win it for him," said Caloy Garcia, who replaced Guiao as Rain or Shine coach.
"It was an ugly win for us. We still have to learn how to move the ball, kasi ang dami naming lapses especially nung first half."
Phoenix 101, GlobalPort 99
December 28
This is truly a comeback for the ages.
When a team is up by 23 points in the fourth quarter, all logic points to the fact that it should win the game. Phoenix-GlobalPort was one though that appeared to defy conventional wisdom.
Excellent shooting and newfound late-game aggressiveness by Phoenix coupled by a series of sloppy plays and a flurry of missed shots by GlobalPort allowed the Fuel Masters to wipe out a seemingly insurmountable deficit to win.
A lot of factors come into play in these unlikely success stories, but for Phoenix coach Ariel Vanguardia, it all boiled down to one thing.
"We didn't quit. That's important."
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