Allen Durham just missed out on a triple-double in the Meralco Bolts’ 109-99 win over the NorthPort Batang Pier in the 2024 PBA Governors’ Cup on Sunday evening, September 1, at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
Durham scored 19 of his 34 points in the pivotal third quarter while adding 16 rebounds and nine dimes to his stat line, against just one turnover.
The Bolts only had a slim 52-49 advantage at the half before Durham waxed hot in the third period, with the import making seven of his eight field goals — including two three-pointers.
He outscored the entire Batang Pier squad, 19-17, helping Meralco surge to a 90-66 advantage after the frame.
NorthPort’s bench mob helped them get within nine points, 104-95, with under four minutes left, but a turnaround jumper by Chris Banchero kept the Bolts in control and their defense held Batang Pier in check the rest of the way.
“We have a lot of respect for NorthPort. They’re the no. 1 team when it comes to points, they’re no. 1 in assists. They started out very well. I thought in the third quarter, we were more solid all around,” said Meralco coach Luigi Trillo, who credited his veterans for stepping up in the third quarter.
“We [were] a little bit choppy in the first, but I thought the third quarter was enough for us,” he added.
Meralco improved to 3-1, putting them in a tie with TNT for the no. 1 spot in Group A.
The Batang Pier fell to 2-2.
Banchero finished with 23 points while Bong Quinto added 18 markers. The Bolts shot 48.4 percent from the field and had a massive 60-43 rebounding advantage.
Arvin Tolentino had 21 points for NorthPort but sat out most of the final quarter.
Their import, Venky Jois, also sat out the frame due to injury after struggling for six points. (ABS-CBN News)
MERALCO 109 — Durham 34, Banchero 24, 23, Quinto 18, Caram 10, Newsome 8, Pasucal 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.