Reynel Hugnatan and Allen Durham’s connection in the end-game worked wonders as the Meralco Bolts edged Barangay Ginebra San Miguel, 85-83, to tie the 2017 Governor’s Cup Finals to two games apiece, Friday night.
Hugnatan’s drop pass to a cutting Durham underneath was part of the game-winning play as the reigning Best Import sank the short stab with 46.6 seconds left to play to propel the Bolts and send the series back to square one.
“As always, it’s beautiful if it works,” lauded coach Norman Black of Meralco’s final play. “If it doesn’t of course it’s not beautiful. Our execution down the stretch was pretty good today… Everything went pretty smoothly.”
Durham finished with 28 points on 52 percent shooting and 18 rebounds, while Hugnatan, who was the Orangemen’s spark back in Game Three as he exploded for 22 points, supplied 14 markers and four dimes.
The Bolts were actually down 78-81 in the final 1:54 of the match, until five straight points — capped by Baser Amer’s right corner triple off a Durham kick-out — wiped out the deficit and sent them to an 83-81 lead with 1:16 remaining.
Import Justin Brownlee came to the rescue for the Barangay once more, nailing both of his foul shots to tie the bout at 83-all 11 seconds later. But after those charities came the pivotal Hugnatan-to-Durham connection.
46 seconds were more than enough to at least tie the match. Coach Tim Cone was seen pleading for a timeout, but the referees did not grant one as rules state that a player who has the ball is the only one who can call such.
As a result, Ginebra, who ran back to the their side of the floor a man short as guard Sol Mercado was limping to the ground due to an ankle injury, went in disarray and failed to convert any basket, sealing the win for Meralco.
“It was a game we had to win,” added the multi-titled Black in the series-tying win. “If we go down 3-1, then it’s gonna be difficult — it would have been very difficult for us to come back. So it’s just a great win for us to tie the series. We now have a series, guys.”
Chris Newsome supplied 18 markers for the Orangemen, who have finally shot 40 percent from the floor this series. Amer, on the other hand, produced 11 markers spiked by two triples, on top of two rebounds and three assists.
Brownlee’s 34 points on 50 percent shooting; 14 rebounds, and seven assists were put to waste in the Barangay’s defeat. Fellow frontliner Joe Devance was his only support with 15 points, six boards, and four feeds.
The Bolts forced Ginebra to 19 turnovers and converted it to 21 points. But, the Gin Kings had more assists with 24.
Game Five will be on Sunday, October 22, 6:30 PM at the Philippine Arena in Bocaue, Bulacan.
The Scores:
Meralco 85 – Durham 28, Newsome 18, Hugnatan 14, Amer 11, Hodge 7, Dillinger 2, Caram 2, Faundo 2, Lanete 1, Tolomia 0.
Ginebra 83 – Brownlee 34, Devance 15, Caguioa 8, Aguilar 7, Slaughter 6, Cruz 4, Thompson 4, Ferrer 3, Helterbrand 2, Tenorio 0, Mercado 0.
Quarterscores: 17-17, 41-40, 68-63, 85-83.
