Meralco snaps six-game slump with stunning win over NLEX
MERALCO may still not be in top form regarding its defense but it sure cropped up when it mattered Sunday.
It didn't hurt that the Bolts' offense also showed up in the stretches that mattered, leading to a 108-105 come-from-behind win over NLEX in the PBA Governors Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Allen Durham scattered 30 of his game-high 36 points in the second half and Baser Amer 14 of his 22 in the fourth quarter that fueled Meralco's fightback from as many as 16 points down.
The two also stood out in the dying seconds with Amer booming in the go-ahead triple and Durham securing the win with a block on a Juami Tiongson's desperate triple try.
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In the end, Meralco arrested a six-game losing streak and improved to 2-6 overall while dealing NLEX a third straight loss that dropped it to a 4-5 slate.
Understandably, coach Norman Black got to finally heave a sigh of relief, one that has been pent up inside for so long. "We struggled throughout the game. We've been struggling a lot lately," he said.
"Our defense is really not on point right now. But the players did not give up in this game, kept on fighting until the very end and we got the win to keep our flickering hopes alive of making the playoffs."
Black also lauded all the players he used in the second half but gave special mention to Durham and Amer. "AD showed determination to will us to victory and Baser Amer hit some big shots down the stretch," he noted.
NLEX can only kick itself after letting what seemed like a sure win slip away from its grasp.
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Aaron Fuller capped a 31-point, 13-rebound performance with an elbow jumper that put the Road Warriors ahead 105-99, going to the last 1:40 of the game.
Then NLEX suffered a veritable meltdown by committing four successive turnovers, one by Fuller himself which Amer translated into a three-point play to tie the game for the last time at 105.
Tiongson committed another miscue and although Reynel Hugnatan missed his own triple try, Amer was there for the offensive rebound that resulted in his biggest shot of the game, 13.6 ticks left.
Despite Tiongson's inbound getting stolen, the Road Warriors still had a slight opening when Durham muffed two charities. But Tiongson took it upon himself to take matters into his own hands and got blocked by the lurking Durham just before the final buzzer sounded.
Chris Newsome added 14 points and a gamehigh nine assists for Meralco with Hugnatan adding 12 and Cliff Hodge 10.
Larry Fonacier made his first seven shots and eventually wound up with 21 points while JR Quinahan chipped in 17 points and eight boards.
In a far cry from its showing in a 97-123 loss to Phoenix last Wednesday NLEX dominated most of the match and seemed ready to ice it when Quinahan's jumper made it an 82-66 count to open up the fourth period.
But Amer started waxing hot, complementing Durham's efforts in leading Meralco's sustained comeback and into the rut-snapping win. (NC)
The scores:
Meralco 108 - Durham 36, Amer 22, Newsome 14, Hugnatan 12, Hodge 10, Caram 8, Lanete 2, Salva 2, Jamito 2, Faundo 0, Atkins 0, Tolomia 0.
NLEX 105 - Fuller 31, Fonacier 21, Quinahan 17, Ighalo 9, Galanza 6, Tallo 5, Marcelo 4, Taulava 3, Rios 3, Soyud 2, Baguio 2, Paniamogan 2, Tiongson 0, Monfort 0.
Quarters: 13-17, 36-39, 66-80, 108-105
