SHORT in preparation and in personnel, the Meralco Bolts impressed nonetheless in a triumphant start in the new PBA season.
Chris Banchero drained a historic first four-point shot in the second quarter while Allen Durham marked his PBA return with a key explosion in the second half leading the Bolts to a 99-94 drubbing of the Magnolia Hotshots in the PBA Season 49 kickoff match at the Smart Araneta Coliseum Sunday.
Durham scored 16 of his 19 points in the final half and snared 16 rebounds to book a double-double game, powering a Meralco team shorthanded minus injury-hit players Allein Maliksi and Raymond Almazan.
"We just tried to find a way," said coach Luigi Trillo, lauding his troops who fought and battled coming from just six days of practices.
Trillo commended his veterans, saying they did a good job to help Durham stay fresh. By the second half, Durham was strong to win it for the Bolts.
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In their transition game from their championship run in the last Philippine Cup, Chris Newsome, Cliff Hodge, Bong Quinto and Brandon Bates were there to do their job.
Then there's young shooter Jolo Mendoza going 3-of-3 from the arc to help the Bolts through to victory versus a Magnolia side pumped up by highly touted import Glenn Robinson III.
The one-time NBA Slam Dunk King fired a game-high 29 points and pulled down 11 rebounds - his solid effort going down the drain, though, as he missed a four-point try with the Hotshots down 94-97 in the closing seconds.
Grabbing the rebound, Durham sealed the deal with two free throws with 2.6 ticks to go.
"I'm not getting younger but my teammates were there, we stood together and opened a lot for me," said Durham, hopeful the team would get better as the conference wears on.
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Banchero finished with 14, Newsome and Mendoza wound up with 13 apiece while Hodge chipped in 12 plus nine rebounds. (SB)
The Scores:
MERALCO 99 - Durham 20, Bancheroo 14, Newsome 13, Mendoza 13, Hodge 12, Quinto 9, Black 6, Rios 3, Pasaol 3, Cansino 2, Bates 2, Pascual 2, Caram 0, Torres 0.
MAGNOLIA 94 - Robinson 29, Sangalang 17, Lee 14, Barroca 9, Lucero 7, Ahanmisi 6, Delka Rosa 5, Laput 4, Mendoza 3, Abueva 0, Dionisio 0, Escoto 0.
QUARTERS: 16, 12, 43-39, 74-63, 99-94.
