Gins’ mission: Stop Durham

Meralco import Allen Durham is expected to create matchup problems for Ginebra coach Tim Cone (left) and import Justin Brownlee (foreground). —AUGUST DELA CRUZ

Barangay Ginebra has embraced the fact that Meralco has an import that cannot be silenced.

The Gin Kings will have to address that matchup predicament with Meralco’s Allen Durham quickly before the PBA Governors’ Cup Finals gets off the ground on Friday at Quezon Convention Center in Lucena.

“Their import is a beast and we don’t have a matchup for him,” said Barangay Ginebra coach Tim Cone after the Kings subdued the TNT KaTropa, 3-1, in the semifinals to set up the championship rematch with the Bolts.

Durham has been Meralco’s catalyst for success this conference, having brought the Bolts back to the finals at the expense of the Star Hotshots in the other semifinal encounter.

“We’ll try to figure something out,” said Cone. “They’re also really playing well and coach Norman (Black) has a team playing the way it should be.”

Though he captured the Best Import award last year, Durham and the Bolts fell to the Gin Kings after Justin Brownlee sank the buzzer-beating trey that clinched the title in Game 6.

“I definitely remember that shot,” said Brownlee, who dropped 28 of his career-high 46 points in the second half of their Game 4 win against TNT. “But whatever we did last year, doesn’t matter in this conference.”
Kiefer, Jeron joining Draft
Meanwhile, former collegiate stars Kiefer Ravena and Jeron Teng declared their intention to join the 2017 PBA Rookie Draft set Oct. 29.

Ravena informed the Inquirer on Monday of his decision.

A two-time UAAP champion and two-time UAAP Most Valuable Player from Ateneo, Ravena has also won four gold medals in the Southeast Asian Games.

The two are tipped to become the top draftees along with Filipino-German Christian Standhardinger, La Salle’s Jason Perkins and Raymar Jose of Far Eastern U. —WITH REPORTS FROM CEDELF P. TUPAS