PBA: Allen Durham, Meralco repeat over import-less Magnolia for 4th straight win in Governors' Cup.

When Magnolia made a frantic rally in hopes of turning things around, Meralco import Allen Durham gestured to his teammates to relax, as if saying “I got this.”

Durham did got it.

The three-time PBA Best Import made the gesture after an up-and-under move against Ian Sangalang, which ended the searing Hotshots surge that got the latter to as close as four points.

Meralco regained control then and hung tough for an 82-74 win in the Bolts' second meeting against Magnolia in the PBA Season 49 Governors’ Cup on Saturday, September 7.

The Bolts rolled to their fourth straight win and grabbed solo lead in Group A with a 5-1 win-loss record.

Playing without an import after making a switch from Glenn Robinson III to Shabazz Muhammad, Magnolia fell to 3-3.

Bong Quinto followed up the said Durham’s basket with a baseline drive off a spin on Paul Lee, before Chris Newsome canned three free throws to ice the game, 81-70, with 41 seconds remaining.

Meralco nearly squandered a 13-point lead after Magnolia uncorked a 12-3 run to close the gap, 74-70, on Aris Dionisio’s booming trey in transition with two minutes and 14 seconds remaining.

Sensing trouble, Meralco went to Durham, who did not let them down and scored the crucial basket that made a world of difference with 1:54 left to play.

Durham finished with 15 points and the same number of rebounds, while Newsome also made some big shots towards the end on his way to 21 points, eight rebounds, and three assists.

Quinto chipped in 16 points.

Meanwhile, Zavier Lucero paced Magnolia with 14 points and 13 rebounds on a night when shots simply did not fall for the Hotshots.

Mark Barroca and Paul Lee scored 12 and 11 points, respectively, for Magnolia.

Muhammad was already on the team’s bench during the game but did not see action.

The Scores:

MERALCO – Newsome 21, Quinto 16, Durham 15, Banchero 10, Cansino 6, Bates 5, Pascual 4, Mendoza 3, Caram 2, Jose 0, Rios 0, Pasaol 0.

MAGNOLIA – Lucero 14, Barroca 12, Lee 11, Balanza 10, Sangalang 9, Abueva 7, Dionisio 7, Laput 2, Ahanmisi 2, Dela Rosa 0, Mendoza 0, Reavis 0.