Durham takes charge in OT as Meralco nips Ginebra for 1-0 lead

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Allen Durham put his foot on the gas pedal as Meralco completed the come-from-behind 114-109 overtime victory over Ginebra for a 1-0 lead in the 2016 PBA Governors’ Cup Finals Friday at Smart Araneta Coliseum.

The Bolts import atoned for his miscues at the end of regulation and scored their first seven points in OT to give the Bolts a 109-102 lead en route to the franchise’s first ever victory in a Finals game.

Meralco battled from a 16-point deficit, 58-42, early in the third quarter and used a scintillating fourth quarter push to tie the game at 96 with over two minutes left to play.

READ: From dead last to finals, Meralco not done until it reaches the top

“It’s been happening to us for the last games. We just seem to hang in there and the offense just clicks. We seem to have a good finishing kick these days,” said coach Norman Black.

Durham finished with 46 points, 13 rebounds, seven assists, two blocks and a steal in the win.

Chris Newsome made his presence felt in his first PBA Finals game with 17 markers, nine boards, and nine dimes, while Reynel Hugnatan got 15 points and eight rebounds.

Game 2 is on Sunday, still at the Big Dome.

Jimmy Alapag tied Allan Caidic for most threes made in PBA history at 1,242, burying a huge three from the left wing to push the Bolts up, 101-100, in the final 33.4 ticks before Justin Brownlee muffed his quick three in the ensuing possession for the Kings.

Ginebra got the break it needed after Reynel Hugnatan was whistled with a charge with 22.6 seconds left, but Brownlee and Scottie Thompson could not convert on their tries.

Durham split his freebies with 6.8 ticks to go, but Tenorio managed to break away and score the game-tying floater to send the game into OT with 2.1 to go. Durham’s desperation three rattled out as time expired.

Tenorio notched a career-high 36 points, four rebounds, and three assists for Ginebra, while Brownlee got 17 markers, eight boards, and four dimes in the loss.

The scores

MERALCO 114 – Durham 46, Newsome 17, Hugnatan 15, Alapag 13, Faundo 8, Amer 5, Caram 4, Hodge 4, Buenafe 2, Nabong 0, Uyloan 0.
GINEBRA 109 – Tenorio 36, Brownlee 17, Caguioa 14, Devance 13, Mercado 8, Thompson 8, Aguilar 6, Cruz 5, Marcelo 2, Mariano 0.

Quarters: 31-28, 42-53, 75-80, 102-102, 114-109.