PBA: Meralco scrapes past Magnolia in season opener

Meralco import Allen Durham.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines—Meralco spoke about having a big target on its back in this new PBA cycle—a notoriety it has gained after winning its first championship during the last season.

The Bolts are off to a great start looking the part on Sunday night following a 99-94 win over perennial title contender Magnolia in the Governors’ Cup curtain raiser at Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Allen Durham, a three-time Best Import, put on a show in his first game back with his old team, delivering 19 points and 16 rebounds for Meralco which also went home with the honor of having hit the first-ever 4-point shot.

Chris Banchero knocked down the 27-footer at the 10:26 marker of the second period. He eventually finished with 14 points.

READ: Chris Banchero hits first-ever PBA four-point shot

“We just had to find a way,” said head coach Luigi Trillo. “We know we’re a little bit rusty, but I think this team is also a veteran team.”

“Like coach said, we just kept preaching ‘find a way,’ ‘find a way,’ get through this first couple of games since we’ve only been practicing not that long. So proud of the guys for standing together through this tough first game,” added Durham.

Jolo Mendoza tossed in 13 points and was the second PBA player to hit a 4-pointer. Cornerstone Chris Newsome had just as many points while Cliff Hodge added 12 more.

The Hotshots leaned on its own import, Glenn Robinson III, who finished with 29 points and 11 rebounds. Ian Sangalang chipped in 17 while Paul Lee 14 points in the scoring effort, but that wasn’t enough to put them past the Bolts, who held on until the final buzzer before a thick crowd who also witnessed the season’s opening revelries and Leo Awards.

Lee, who many felt was going to hit the historic first 27-footer, drilled one early in the final period.

Meralco will have a chance to annex a second-straight win against corporate sibling TNT this coming Thursday in a clash scheduled at the Big Dome.

Magnolia, on the other hand, tackles Converge this Friday, also at the famed venue.