By REYNALD MAGALLON
Allen Durham flirted with a triple-double as Meralco used a huge third-quarter storm to sink NorthPort, 109-99, and get a share of the Group A lead with TNT in the PBA Season 49 Governors’ Cup at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium on Sunday, Sept. 1.
The hulking import presided over the third quarter onslaught for the Bolts before holding off a late surge from the Batang Pier to list their second-straight victory and improve to a 3-1 record in the standings.
Durham came an assist shy of the triple-double but nonetheless enough to power Meralco with his 34 points – 19 of which he poured during the Bolts’ searing rally in the third frame – to go along with his 16 rebounds and nine assists.
Chris Banchero provided ample support with 23 points including a couple of big hits down the stretch to shut the door on the rallying NorthPort while Bong Quinto chipped in 18 points.
The win also came for Meralco despite still playing shorthanded with Aaron Black and Allein Maliksi set to go under the knife to repair their respective injuries. Raymond Almazan was also still out due to a hyperextended knee while Chris Newsome played through an ankle injury and finished with eight.
Durham was at the forefront of a 27-7 run from Meralco late in the third, turning a once tight 63-59 affair into a massive 90-66 lead – the 24-point advantage the biggest for the Bolts in the contest.
It also didn’t help that NorthPort import Venky Jois also sustained an ankle injury that planted him deep into the Batang Pier bench.
Still, NorthPort refused to easily waive the white flag and battle back within nine, 104-95 with 3:25 left in the game behind an unlikely five composed of Joshua Munzon, William Navarro, Evan Nelle, John Amores and Abu Tratter.
That, however, was the closest NorthPort could get as Banchero, Durham and Quinto then provided timely hits in the waning minutes to take the fight out of the Batang Pier.
Arvin Tolentino, after exploding for 51 points last game, only finished with 21 points and was scoreless in the final frame, while Munzon added 16 points. Jois only had six points and five rebounds to his name.
Navarro, meanwhile, poured 13 of his 18 points in the fourth-quarter comeback, which only came a little too short to prevent his team from falling to a 2-2 record and in tie with Converge and Magnolia in the middle of the Group A standings.
