Baser Amer and Allen Durham played big in the end-game to complete the Meralco Bolts’ comeback and stun the NLEX Road Warriors, 108-105, to end their six-game skid in the 2018 Governors’ Cup, Sunday at the SMART Araneta Coliseum.
The Bolts came back from as much as 16, and took the three-point lead with 13.2 seconds left to play thanks to Amer’s booming triple, before Durham sealed the win by blocking Juami Tiongson’s potential game-tying trey.
Durham paced Meralco with 36 points, 18 rebounds, and seven assists, while Amer – who went scoreless in their loss to NorthPort Batang Pier last Friday – backed Durham up with 22 points, seven boards, and three dimes.
“Allen Durham played well, and Baser Amer hit some big shots down the stretch,” said head coach Norman Black.
The win not only improved Meralco’s card to 2-6, but also kept their flickering playoff hopes alive. On the other hand, the Road Warriors lost their third straight game, pulling down their record to 4-5.
“It’s been a very, very long time,” Black exhaled, as the Bolts tasted their first win in nearly two months. “We keep our flickering hopes alive for the playoffs.”
The Bolts were expected to lose yet again after going down by 16, 66-82, as JR Quiñahan opened the fourth quarter with a short jumper. Meralco tried to put up rallies, but the Road Warriors managed to provide answers right away.
NLEX already had an eight-point edge with 4:32 to go, but that wall came crumbling down as the Orangemen fought back with a 16-7 blitz – capped by Amer’s three-point play – to tie the game at 105-all with 46 seconds left.
The stars then seemingly aligned for Meralco, as Tiongson was called for a traveling violation with 41 seconds remaining. The Bolts did not waste the next possession, as Amer nailed a trey with 13.2 ticks left.
The door was still open for NLEX when Durham failed to sink his freebies with 9.6 ticks left to play, but he made up for it greatly moments later as he smothered Tiongson’s shot that could have sent the game into overtime.
Newsome had 14 points and nine rebounds, while Hugnatan added 14 markers, five boards, and four dimes.
Aaron Fuller – who fouled out of the match after his shooting foul on Amer with 46 seconds left in the game – led NLEX with 31 points and 13 rebounds. Larry Fonacier had 21 points, while Quiñahan supplied 17.
Meralco will look to add another win as they face the Magnolia Hotshots on Friday, October 19, while NLEX will aim to end their slump versus the Alaska Aces on October 26. Both games will be at the Ynares Center in Antipolo City.
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.
Quarterscores: 13-17, 36-39, 66-80, 108-105.
