With eyes on title, Allen Durham shrugs off Best Import award

PBA Governors’ Cup Best Import Allen Durham. INQUIRER PHOTO/TRISTAN TAMAYO

MANILA, Philippines — Being named Best Import for the third time is an impressive feat, but Allen Durham returned to Meralco to finish what he started.

Durham wants no less than a PBA title for the Bolts and after a 94-72 loss to Barangay Ginebra that moved the Gin Kings on the cusp of the Governors’ Cup crown, he couldn’t care any less about an individual plum.

“It (Best Import award) doesn’t mean nothing right now. I don’t really care about that, that’s not why I came back,” Durham told reporters after Wednesday night’s Game 4.

https://sports.inquirer.net/381491/allen-durham-chews-out-meralco-everybody-played-like-sht

The 31-year-old Durham had 21 points and 27 rebounds in a tough offensive outing where he shot just 9-of-23 from the field and turned the ball over six times.

“I’m just worried about trying to get a win on Friday and extend the series,” Durham, who edged Ginebra’s Justin Brownlee anew for the award, said.

https://sports.inquirer.net/381403/standhardinger-wins-pba-best-player-award-durham-top-import-anew

Durham and the rest of the Bolts hope to redeem themselves in Game 5 Friday night at Mall of Asia Arena.

The Gin Kings, meanwhile, look to reassert their mastery over the Bolts, whom they’ve already beaten twice in the finals, with a third Governors’ Cup title in four years.