Allen Durham showed why he is a three-time Best Import in the PBA Sunday night.
Allen Durham carried Meralco on his broad shoulders en route to a 109-99 win over NorthPort in the PBA Season 49 Governors’ Cup on Sunday, Sept. 1.
Durham finished with 34 points, 16 rebounds and nine assists for the Bolts, who scored a second straight win for a share of the top spot in Group B with TNT with their identical 3-1 marks.
Meralco flipped the switch in the third period where the hulking import dropped 19 of his total output as the Bolts outscored the Batang Pier in the frame, 38-17.
But Meralco saw that comfortable 24-point lead slowly dissipate as NorthPort clamped down on defense to get as close as nine points, 104-95, on William Navarro’s free throws with 4:13 left to play.
Chris Banchero then stepped up for the Bolts as he nailed a beautiful turnaround jumper to stop the bleeding.
Meralco did just enough from there to hang tough for the victory.
Helping Durham on the scoring end was Banchero, who scored 23 that went with eight rebounds.
Bong Quinto added 18 points, six rebounds and three assists.
Meanwhile, Arvin Tolentino, who erupted with 51 points the last time out, still led the way for the Batang Pier with 21 this time but did not see action in the final minutes.
He also had seven rebounds and three steals.
In his stead, William Navarro picked up the cudgels with 18 points and 11 rebounds. Joshua Munzon added 16 markers.
The Scores:
MERALCO 109 – Durham 34, Banchero 24, 23, Quinto 18, Caram 10, Newsome 8, Pascual 6, Cansino 6, Rios 2, Mendoza 2, Bates 0, Hodge 0, Pasaol 0
NORTHPORT 99 – Tolentino 21, Navarro 18, Munzon 16, Flores 8, Bulanadi 7, Jois 6, Amores 6, Cuntapay 6, Jalalon 5, Nelle 3, Yu 3, Tratter 0, Onwubere 0
Quarterscores: 22-28, 52-49, 90-66, 109-99