Meralco Bolts’ Allen Durham against Terrafirma defenders in the PBA Governors’ Cup. –PBA IMAGES
Meralco could only preach the need for others to pick up the slack as the Bolts took a share of the lead in Group A of the PBA Governors’ Cup eliminations, despite being ravaged with injuries through three games.
“It’s next man up, but I’m confident with what the other guys are doing,” coach Luigi Trillo said after the Bolts improved to 2-1 in the season-opening conference on Wednesday with a 107-91 victory over the Terrafirma Dyip at Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
The Bolts tied the TNT Tropang Giga and Converge FiberXers on top of the group despite dealing with the absence of skipper Chris Newsome (ankle), Aaron Black (knee) and Raymond Almazan (back).
Newsome was in uniform, but the Bolts decided it would be best to sit out the hero of last season’s Philippine Cup Finals run after spraining his ankle twice against TNT last week. Black, meanwhile, went down with a meniscus tear this time.
Active consultant Nenad Vucinic was also not in the venue, with Trillo saying that the Serbian mentor was “throwing up” in the past few days.
But if there’s anything Meralco can be pleased with is that Allein Maliksi finally saw action after being sidelined the first two games with a thigh issue, while Almazan is expected to be back on Sunday against NorthPort.
Import Allen Durham, Trillo believes, is showing signs of regaining the form that made a regular fixture before his Japan gig the last three years, as the three-time Best Import posted 23 points that went with 12 rebounds, three assists and two steals.
“I think he found his groove today,” said Trillo of Durham. “I think the longer the tournament goes, the [more] he’s getting in shape.”
Terrafirma fell to a dismal 0-3 record to remain at the bottom of the group, with all defeats coming in double digits.
To reclaim lead
Meanwhile, TNT and Magnolia clash at the same venue on Thursday, with the Tropang Giga seeking to put behind the pain of a stinging loss to Converge the other night.
TNT is determined to get back on track after squandering a massive lead before falling, 96-95, after allowing FiberXers import Scotty Hopson to knock down the first four-point game-winner in league history last Tuesday.
Magnolia is at 1-1 after bouncing back from its loss to Meralco on opening night. The Hotshots own a victory over Converge, 105-93, last week.
Converge, also eyeing to remain on top of Group A, battles NorthPort in the 5 p.m. opener, with an interesting subplot at hand.
FiberXers assistant coach Danny Ildefonso was fined P20,000 by the league for responding on social media to a contract stalemate involving his son Dave and the Batang Pier management.
The younger Ildefonso was taken fifth in July’s Rookie Draft, but has yet to come to terms with NorthPort.
His dad, the two-time MVP during his celebrated playing days with San Miguel Beer, clapped back at a couple of netizens and made reference to the words “farm team.”