GlobalPort import Malcolm White is hounded by the Phoenix Petroleum defense during their game last night in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Commissioner’s Cup at the Araneta Coliseum. ROMAN PROSPERO

Phoenix Petroleum trounced GlobalPort, 135-108, last night to snap its four-game losing slump and keep its playoff hopes burning in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Commissioner’s Cup at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum.

Behind import Eugene Phelps and gunner Matthew Wright, the Fuel Masters ran away early in the first half, leaving the stunned Batang Pier with a huge 70-51 gap which they never squandered.

Riding on the momentum, Phoenix even stepped on the gas in the second half with a quick 27-10 run to widen the break, 97-61, on Phelps’ split charities late in the third quarter en route to the easy victory.

With the win, the Fuel Masters, who played for the first time without Jeff Chan who was traded to Ginebra in exchange for this year’s first round pick on Monday, improved to 4-6 win-loss slate to remain in contention for a seat in the eight-team quarterfinal-cast with still a game remaining in their mid-season conference elimination schedule.

The Batang Pier, meanwhile, slid to the lower-half of the clogged team standings with a 4-5 record.

“Finally, we won (after four games). Hopefully this will be the start of something big for us,” said Phoenix coach Louie Alas.

“We will have a long 16-day break, but at least we’re not on vacation for good yet. We’re still in contention, he added.”

Phelps drilled in 21 points in the first half alone to finish with a monster triple-double of 37 points, 23 rebounds, 10 assists on top of two steals and a block.

Wright led the local support for Phelps with 24 points on six triples.

Stepping up for the loss of Chan who is averaging 11.56 points, 4.4 rebounds and 4.1 assists per game, rookie Jason Perkins and veteran point guard RJ Jazul also contributed big time with 13 and 11 points, respectively.

GlobalPort import Malcolm White dropped 24 points and six rebounds in a losing cause for the Batang Pier, who lost big man Kelly Nabong to an ejection late in the third quarter after incurring a flagrant foul penalty 1 on Perkins.

He already had a technical foul in the first half.

Sean Anthony also had 15 points while Stanley Pringle put up 14 points, five rebounds and eight assists.