PHOENIX coach Charles Tiu believes incoming new import Marcellus Earlington provides what the team needs as the Fuel Masters step up their playoff drive when the PBA Season 50 Governors’ Cup resumes on Oct. 7. The long break saw Phoenix let go of original import BJ Johnson, who went on to sign with Parma BC in the Russian pro league. The 30-year-old Johnson logged in do-it-all numbers of 30.71 points, 9.57 rebounds, 4.0 assists, 3.0 steals, and 2.0 blocks per game to help Phoenix register a 4-3 record for joint second to third spots in Group B before the league went on a two-month break. The conference break though was a blessing in disguise as the Fuel Masters had time to find Johnson’s replacement in Earlington. “He’s doing alright,” Tiu said, in describing Earlington, who played college basketball for St. John’s and San Diego. “He is an inside player and gives us more balance against having another wing player.” The 26-year-old Earlington averaged solid numbers of 22.1 points, 7.7 rebounds and 1.9 assists for Ironi Nahariya in the Israeli National league. The American reinforcement played for the Fuel Masters, who dropped a narrow 83-80 decision to Mongolian squad Omni Erdenet Miners recently in their friendly game at Activate Hoop Arena in Mandaluyong City. Tiu said they’ve been working on playing solid defense as a team, knowing that playoff-bound squads do more than just outscore its opponents. “We need to defend better, play together and find a way to show that we really are a playoff team,” stressed Tiu, whose team tries to improve on its quarterfinal finish from the Commissioner’s Cup. “We have a very tough schedule against everyone fighting for the playoffs so we need to show that we belong,” he added. Phoenix won’t see action till Oct. 16 when Tiu’s charges battle Meralco at the Ynares Center in Antipolo.