Meralco slips past Columbian in PBA Govs’ Cup opener

ANTIPOLO—Meralco survived a fiesty Columbian side, 109-106, in the opening day of the 2018 PBA Governors’ Cup Friday Ynares Center here.

With import Allen Durham in tow for the third straight year, the Bolts’ title bid is off to a good start.

They are looking to bounce back from the two finals losses against Ginebra in 2016 and 2017.

Meralco and Columbian were embroiled in an intense back-and-forth in the fourth quarter that saw three ties and six lead changes in a span of less than five minutes.

Glenn Khobuntin’s layup with 1:15 layup tied the game, the final one in the match, at 106-106 just before Baser Amer’s own inside bucket gave Meralco a 108-106 lead with a minute left.

“Definitely this was a good start to the conference, it was a tough win, and Columbian played really well,” said Meralco head coach Norman Black. “Our first half was a little bit shaky, we didn’t get a good start especially I that second quarter when we were down by 10 points, 53-43.”

“We managed to make some changes in the half and we played a lot better in the third quarter,” added Black whose team outscored the Dyip 42-23 in the third.

Allen Durham scored the game’s final point from the free throw line wherein Columbian import Akeem Wright got shaken up during the rebounding battle with 1.4 seconds left.

Roider Cabrera had the chance to tie the game but his three-point attempt from the left win hit nothing but air.

Durham missed out on a triple-double but compiled a line of 26 points, 20 rebounds, and nine assists while Amer had 23 points eight rebounds and six assists.

Wright had 30 points and 14 boards for the Dyip while Jerramy King had 24 points, eight rebounds, and five assists.

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