WITH steely resolve on both ends all game long, Meralco carved out an 86-83 victory over Mahindra last night and clinched at least a tie for the last twice-to-beat privilege in the first round of the PBA Governors’ Cup playoffs at Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay.
Allen Durham hit the go-ahead turnaround jumper with 46 seconds left before the Bolts’ defense thwarted the Enforcers last-gasp charge to close out with a 6-5 card, giving Meralco a shot at tabbing the No. 4 slot.
The top four finishers after the elimination round need to beat a lower-ranked foe just once to advance to the Final Four.
Phoenix Petroleum, Alaska and NLEX have identical 6-5 records and are all capable of tying the Bolts at No. 4. The Aces and the Road Warriors part ways on Friday, with the winner to play Meralco for that last top-four berth.
As things stand, TNT KaTropa, defending champion San Miguel Beer and Barangay Ginebra have already secured twice-to-beat quarterfinal privileges, their rankings in the top four the only thing to be determined in the last three playdates.
The Texters zeroed in on No. 1 after ripping the already eliminated Star, 115-105, in the nightcap.
TNT improved to 9-1 and will clash with the Gin Kings at the end of the elimination round on Sept. 18 in Biñan, Laguna.
The Gin Kings will end up at No. 1 if they hurdle the Fuel Masters on Wednesday. Phoenix, however, needs to win the game to stay in the running for No. 4.
Mahindra, which will be making its first playoff appearance in the league, also wound up at 6-5 but got booted out of the top four after losing a third straight game.
MERALCO import Allen Durham (right) drives to the basket but gets foiled by Mahindra’s Mark Yee as James White (left) provides help defense. Sherwin Vardeleon
“The ball bounced our way today,” Meralco coach Norman Black said. “We’ll just have to wait, sit back and see who we will play next.”
Durham finished with 34 points, 17 rebounds and three blocks in another sterling effort, with Jared Dillinger coming off the bench to drain three of the Bolts’ five triples for 12 points that went with eight boards.
James White, who shoved the Enforcers ahead for the last time before that Durham basket, led Mahindra with 27 points and 12 rebounds.
The scores:
First Game
MERALCO 86—Durham 34, Dillinger 12, Newsome 10, Hugnatan 9, Alapag 7, Amer 4, Hodge 3, Uyloan 3, Faundo 2, Nabong 2, Al-Hussaini 0.
MAHINDRA 83—White 27, Ramos 17, Revilla 12, Yee 9, Taha 8, Aguilar 4, Guinto 2, Digregorio 2, Agovida 2, Mandani 0, Webb 0, Galanza 0, Bagatsing 0, Ballesteros 0, De Vera 0.
Quarters: 25-22, 50-45, 71-62, 86-83
Second Game
TROPANG TNT 115—Fonacier 21, Castro 21, Tautuaa 16, Ammons 14, Rosario 10, Madanly 10, Williams 9, Rosales 7, Reyes 5, De Ocampo 2, Carey 0, Rosser 0.
STAR 105—Wright 27, Simon 20, Pingris 17, Barroca 10, Maliksi 9, Garcia 8, Pascual 6, Reavis 4, Mallari 4, Brondial 0, Melton 0.
Quarters: 27-27, 50-55, 89-83, 115-105