By REYNALD MAGALLON
Meralco is seeing a lot of room for improvement even in the aftermath of its 99-94 opening day victory over the Magnolia Hotshots especially with returning import Allen Durham yet to hit tip-top shape.
Bolts head coach Luigi Trillo said Durham have yet to really get into the groove of things with Meralco in terms of his game shape and chemistry with the team.
Despite that, Durham looked exactly like the dominant and hulking import everyone used to remember him from three years ago when he last towed Meralco to the Finals but lost to archrival Barangay Ginebra.
The 36-year-old big man finished with 20 points and 16 rebounds although not after shaking off the cobwebs in the first half when he was limited to just three points.
“Honestly, we’ve only had maybe six practices and then two tune-up games so we know we’re a bit rusty. But I think this team is also a veteran team, he (Durham) has been with us a long time ago. We know he’s still not in his top form but he was up to the task of finding ways,” Trillo said of Durham.
The veteran import did find his ways in the second half as he helped his team establish a 77-63 lead early in the final frame. Magnolia, however, mounted a comeback and came close at completing it as import Glenn Robinson III missed the go-ahead four-pointer in the waning seconds.
Durham collared the rebound and scored the game-sealing free throws.
“For me, adjusting back to physicality. I’m not as young as I used to be so I got to find a way to maneuver or stuff like that,” Durham said, admitting the need to get back into better shape.
“I’ll get back to my form and we’ll be better and better as the conference goes on,” he vowed.
