Allen Durham, Meralco zap TNT to force do-or-die

Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

ANTIPOLO — Meralco bucked a tentative start then turned to its depth to roll past TNT, 95-83, in Game 4 to even their PBA Governors’ Cup semifinals series Saturday night at Ynares Center here.

The Bolts got the goods from their do-it-all import Allen Durham while also drawing needed production from their locals in a fiery that sent the duel into a deciding Game 5 on Monday night.

“I’m proud of the way my players responded tonight under pressure,” said Meralco coach Norman Black. “Our defense really held up tonight.”

Durham fired 36 points, plucked down 13 rebounds, while Baser Amer chipped in 12 and Chris Newsome added 10.

All of KaTropa’s starters delivered double-digit scores with KJ McDaniels leading the charge with 26 points and nine rebounds.

But they failed to come through when it mattered most.

TNT came within five, 80-75, with seven minutes left to play but faltered when the Bolts’ big guns came back firing.

“A lot of people didn’t want to lose tonight. Everybody contributed on offense,” said Black.

“But more so on offense, I think we’re on the same page in defense,” he closed.

The scores:

Meralco 95 – Durham 36, Amer 12, Newsome 10, Almazan 8, Maliksi 8, Quinto 7, Faundo 4, Hodge 4, Pinto 4, Caram 2, Jose 0, Jamito 0.

TNT 83 – McDaniels 26, Rosario 15, Castro 14, Parks 11, Pogoy 11, Reyes 3, De Leon 2, Semerad 1, Digregorio 0, Williams 0, Vosotros 0.

Quarters: 18-24, 51-45, 73-68, 95-83.