Meralco slips past Ginebra for 2-1 edge

Jimmy Alapag celebrates. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

Allen Durham led the way and the locals rallied behind their import as Meralco got back at Barangay Ginebra, 107-103, for a 2-1 series lead in the 2016 PBA Governors’ Cup Finals Wednesday at Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Durham redeemed himself with 36 points and 20 rebounds three nights after scoring only 22 in an 82-79 loss in Game 2.

Rookie Chris Newsome backed Durham up with 22 points and seven assists and so did veterans Reynel Hugnatan and Jimmy Alapag, who combined for 35 points and hit clutch 3-points to hold off the Kings down the stretch.

“It seemed to be a game that neither team wanted to lose,” said Meralco head coach Norman Black.

“We’re getting closer to where we want to be. We really wanted to take Game 3 because we really felt that would give us an advantage in the series.”

Hugnatan made three triples in the last two minutes and 34 seconds with the last one giving the Bolts a 105-98 cushion with 42.2 seconds left.

Alapag equaled his highest output in a Meralco uniform with 18 points on 4-of-7 shooting from three-point range and was a plus-14 in nearly 29 minutes. Hugnatan also grabbed eight rebounds.

Justin Brownlee set a conference-high 42 points, including a deep 3-pointer with 11.2 ticks remaining that kept the door open for the Gin Kings, before Durham sealed the game with two free throws.

Sol Mercado, who was Ginebra’s hero in Game 2, played with flu and was saddled by foul trouble. He finished with only four points in 18 minutes.

The Scores
MERALCO 107 – Durham 36, Newsome 22, Alapag 18, Hugnatan 17, Hodge 6, Faundo 4, Uyloan 3, Amer 1, Al-Hussaini 0, Nabong 0.
GINEBRA 103 – Brownlee 42, Tenorio 14, Aguilar 12, Thompson 10, Cruz 6, Mariano 6, Devance 5, Mercado 4, Ellis 2, Marcelo 2, Caguioa 0.
Quarters: 18-20, 48-44, 71-69, 107-103