The Meralco Bolts has showed everyone why they are now called the new never-say-die team after surviving three games playing catch-up. And that spirit thrives in the veins of import Allen Durham.
Durham showed his precious stuffs as a warrior, bucking an ankle sprain to inspire the dramatic 72-66 come-from-behind triumph over the Star Hotshots in Game One of their PBA Governors Cup Final Four faceoff at the Alonte Sports Arena in Binan, Laguna last 1 October 2017.
Though favoring his injured right ankle, Durham found a way to collect huge double-double numbers with 23 points and the same number of rebounds and propel the Bolts to the crucial 1-0 lead in the best-of-five series.
The two teams slug it out in Game Two at 7:00 P.M. on 3 October over at the Sta. Rose Multi-Purpose Complex in Sta. Rosa, Laguna.
The Bolts were still in a tight spot when Durham flexed his muscles the hardest, igniting their amazing fightback win.
Taking the cue from their import, Jared Dillinger and Ranidel de Ocampo came through with clutch three-pointers that highlighted Meralco's rally from 11 points down in the last 5:23 of the game.
Emotions were high when Meralco assistant coach Jimmy Alapag and reserve center Kelly Nabong figured in a verbal spat on the bench. Nabong ripped off his jersey and didn't join huddles during timeouts the rest of the way.
The Bolts, however, overcame a flat start, the fouling out of Chris Newsome, a rollercoaster ride and flaring emotions to gain the head start in the series.
Durham provided a huge lift before Dillinger and De Ocampo struck with three successive treys that tied the count at 66-all with 1:42 left to play.
The Bolts finished with a flurry while the Hotshots floundered in the homestretch, failing to score a single basket in the last three minutes of 41 seconds of the match.
The Bolts actually battled back all the way from 17 points down in the opening quarter.
After blowing away their early 20-3 bulge, the Hotshots reestablished a commanding spread at 59-47 on a 12-to-nothing roll in a stretch bridging the third and the fourth quarters.
Then Durham took charge.
Though playing with a limp, Durham came through with 9-of-16 field shooting that went with 5-of-7 free throws, completely outclassing Kris Acox who was good for only seven markers and 16 boards.
Dillinger contributed 15 points, including three triples, while De Ocampo came up with two clutch shots when Newsome had fouled out.
The whole Meralco team beat out Star in a defensive battle in the crunch.
The Hotshots were still in the fight at 66-68 when Durham forced Paul Lee to a crucial turnover with 52.9 seconds left.
Then Durham himself turned that defensive stop into a key basket as the Bolts eventually pulled off the steal of a win.
Durham showed his precious stuffs as a warrior, bucking an ankle sprain to inspire the dramatic 72-66 come-from-behind triumph over the Star Hotshots in Game One of their PBA Governors Cup Final Four faceoff at the Alonte Sports Arena in Binan, Laguna last 1 October 2017.
Though favoring his injured right ankle, Durham found a way to collect huge double-double numbers with 23 points and the same number of rebounds and propel the Bolts to the crucial 1-0 lead in the best-of-five series.
The two teams slug it out in Game Two at 7:00 P.M. on 3 October over at the Sta. Rose Multi-Purpose Complex in Sta. Rosa, Laguna.
The Bolts were still in a tight spot when Durham flexed his muscles the hardest, igniting their amazing fightback win.
Taking the cue from their import, Jared Dillinger and Ranidel de Ocampo came through with clutch three-pointers that highlighted Meralco's rally from 11 points down in the last 5:23 of the game.
Emotions were high when Meralco assistant coach Jimmy Alapag and reserve center Kelly Nabong figured in a verbal spat on the bench. Nabong ripped off his jersey and didn't join huddles during timeouts the rest of the way.
The Bolts, however, overcame a flat start, the fouling out of Chris Newsome, a rollercoaster ride and flaring emotions to gain the head start in the series.
Durham provided a huge lift before Dillinger and De Ocampo struck with three successive treys that tied the count at 66-all with 1:42 left to play.
The Bolts finished with a flurry while the Hotshots floundered in the homestretch, failing to score a single basket in the last three minutes of 41 seconds of the match.
The Bolts actually battled back all the way from 17 points down in the opening quarter.
After blowing away their early 20-3 bulge, the Hotshots reestablished a commanding spread at 59-47 on a 12-to-nothing roll in a stretch bridging the third and the fourth quarters.
Then Durham took charge.
Though playing with a limp, Durham came through with 9-of-16 field shooting that went with 5-of-7 free throws, completely outclassing Kris Acox who was good for only seven markers and 16 boards.
Dillinger contributed 15 points, including three triples, while De Ocampo came up with two clutch shots when Newsome had fouled out.
The whole Meralco team beat out Star in a defensive battle in the crunch.
The Hotshots were still in the fight at 66-68 when Durham forced Paul Lee to a crucial turnover with 52.9 seconds left.
Then Durham himself turned that defensive stop into a key basket as the Bolts eventually pulled off the steal of a win.
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