MANILA, Philippines – The Meralco Bolts hung tough down the stretch for the 101-95 victory over the NLEX Road Warriors in the 2016 PBA Governors' Cup on Wednesday, August 24, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Import Allen Durham continued his steady hum after breaking his nose as he scattered 31 points with 17 rebounds and 5 assists in 38 and a half minutes.
Five other Bolts had double digits in a game where Meralco operated as one solid unit, especially in the clutch as NLEX threatened to upstage them.
"This was a really good team effort on our part today," said head coach Norman Black. "I know that Allen Durham was probably the best player at the end of the game but we got a lot of contributions from other people. (Cliff) Hodge, (Jared) Dillinger, (Chris) Newsome, (Bryan) Faundo, (Baser) Amer – we needed all of that to get a win against NLEX."
Hodge posted 17 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, and 4 blocks on top of his usual energy. But chief among his contributions was a key putback off a Newsome fastbreak layup miss after a steal with 2:25 remaining. It marked a 4-point swing, 88-84, after NLEX tied the count at 84.
Dillinger and Newsome wound up with 12 points each as Newsome also flirted with a triple-double with his 7 assists and 6 steals.
Kelly Nabong likewise tallied 12 markers with 4 boards off the bench. Although he fouled out with still over two minutes to go, his baseline jumper broke the 84-all deadlock and paved the way for Hodge's crucial putback.
Faundo added 10 points but rookie playmaker Amer proved heroic late in the game.
Amer scored all of his 7 points in the final minute and a half after coming in for Nabong when he fouled out. His 3-pointer from the corner opened up a 7-point Meralco advantage with a minute to go and another jumper 30 seconds later countered Henry Walker's attempt at an upset.
Amer stepped up in the absence of veteran guard Jimmy Alapag, whom Black sat out after "tweaking something at the back of his ankle in the lower part of his calf."
Black hopes Alapag will make it back in time for the game against San Miguel Beer on Wednesday, August 31, when Meralco looks to improve on its now 5-3 record.
"It's important for us to have him and his leadership if and when we make the playoffs," he said.
Meanwhile, NLEX import Walker's 38 points plus 9 rebounds, 5 assists, and two blocks weren't enough to extend the team's two-game winning run.
Sean Anthony had a double-double of 13 points and 10 rebounds off the bench while Emman Monfort had 12 markers.
Asi Taulava added 10 points and 7 rebounds as NLEX fell to a 3-4 record.
NLEX is still reeling from news of its comrade Mac Cardona getting hospitalized for a sleeping pill overdose. A statement from team manager Ronald Dulatre said Cardona's condition is improving and he has been transferred to Makati Medical Center.
Scores:
Meralco (101): Durham 31, Hodge 17, Dillinger 12, Nabong 12, Newsome 12, Faundo 10, Amer 7, Buenafe 0, Caram 0, Hugnatan 0.
NLEX (95): Walker 38, Anthony13, Monfort 12, Taulava 10, Khobuntin 8, Baracael 4, Akl 3, Arboleda 3, Alas 2, Reyes 2, Soyud 0, Villanueva E. 0.
Quarter scores: 22-19, 44-36, 70-66, 101-95.
– Rappler.com