By REYNALD MAGALLON
Allen Durham had to shake off some jitters in his first game back in the country and when he did in the second half, he played exactly like the hulking and dominant import everyone used to remember him.
Durham took over in the second half, dropping 17 of his 20 points – none bigger than the game-sealing free throws as Meralco edged Magnolia, 99-94, in the opening game of the PBA Season 49 Governors’ Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Sunday, Aug. 18.
Durham, who also added 16 rebounds to his name, carried the Bolts on his shoulder and coolly sank two free throws with 2.6 seconds left to make up for earlier missed freebies and shut the door on the Magnolia comeback.
The Bolts led by as many as 14 points, 77-63, after a Durham triple early in the final frame but the Hotshots rallied back and came within just two points, 96-94, in the waning seconds.
Down only by three after Chris Newsome split his charities in the previous play, Glenn Robinson III tried to go for the win and hoisted an ambitious four-point attempt which he missed.
Durham cleared the rebound which paved the way to the game-preserving free throws.
Chris Banchero who nailed the first official four point shot in basketball history finished with 14 points while Newsome and Jolo Mendoza added 13 apiece.
Robinson III, lived up to the billing and paced Magnolia with 29 points and 11 rebounds while Ian Sangalang and Paul Lee had 17 and 14 points apiece.
