<\/p>\n
Phoenix is already coping with some unusual player situations even with the PBA Governors\u2019 Cup still days away from opening day.<\/p>\n
Coach Charles Tiu told the Inquirer that Phoenix is attempting to make do with what it has, but that hasn\u2019t dampened the spirits of the Fuel Masters ahead of the import-laden tournament.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve been banged up, we (only) have 11 players healthy every single day, so it\u2019s been a challenge,\u201d Tiu said over the phone. \u201cIt\u2019s tough, we don\u2019t have many big men on our squad, but we\u2019re still trying to organize and adjust to see how we will compete (in) this conference.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI feel we had enough time to organize,\u201d he went on. \u201cBut roster changes modified the best way we envisioned the team. But that\u2019s a part of (it).\u201d<\/p>\n
Big man Matthew Daves took a flight to be together with his family in Canada, and fellow bruiser Prince Caperal also took an indefinite leave to cater to family matters.<\/p>\n
To make matters worse, the Fuel Masters have three players on the injured\/reserve list. Dave Ando, Tony Ynot and Francis Escandor are all coping with undisclosed injuries.<\/p>\n
However it hasn\u2019t been all bad for Phoenix, though.<\/p>\n
After playing much of the Commissioner\u2019s Cup without star forward Kai Ballungay, the Fuel Masters now have the Ateneo product back and healthy.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s healthy now in order that\u2019ll be a giant factor for us,\u201d Tiu said of Ballungay. \u201cHopefully, he stays healthy.\u201d<\/p>\n
With the pieces dealt to Tiu, the squad continues to be seeking to a minimum of return to the quarterfinals.<\/p>\n
The Fuel Masters still have rising guards Tyler Tio and Ricci Rivero along with NBA-caliber import BJ Johnson and Phoenix believes it’ll still be a threat in its group that also has Ginebra, Rain or Shine, Meralco, Magnolia and Blackwater.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe’ve our work cut out for us, but hopefully we will compete, pull off a couple of upsets and make it to the playoffs again,\u201d he said. \u201cThat\u2019s our goal.\u201d INQ<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Phoenix is already coping with some unusual player situations even with the PBA Governors\u2019 Cup still days away from opening day. Coach Charles Tiu told the Inquirer that Phoenix is attempting to make do with what it has, but that hasn\u2019t dampened the spirits of the Fuel Masters ahead of the import-laden tournament. \u201cWe\u2019ve been […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":361609,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[338],"tags":[3583,53563,451,2009,2751,4908],"class_list":["post-361608","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-sports","tag-fuel","tag-manpower","tag-masters","tag-mind","tag-playoffs","tag-woes"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t