LUCENA, QUEZON — There’s no denying that Meralco’s bench was a major factor in the Bolts tying their 2019 PBA Governors’ Cup Finals series versus rival Barangay Ginebra San Miguel, Friday evening.
Nard Pinto, Nico Salva, and Anjo Caram all made significant contributions, especially during the third quarter, where they repelled the Gin Kings’ fightback from a 19-point deficit.
Pinto finished with 12 points, all from threes in the first quarter alone. Salva provided nine markers, while Caram added five as Meralco’s bench outscored its counterparts, 29-12.
Former two-time Best Import Allen Durham feels proud of the effort the bench guys put up in the 104-102 win.
“It’s all a great effort from everybody. For guys who came off the bench who haven’t been playing up to this point? They came in and were very professional,” he said.
“Nico, Nards and all that stuff — without them, I don’t think we’d even win the game tonight. Everybody came to play today, and that’s what we need for the remainder of the [series].”
The win not only allowed the Bolts to level the best-of-seven series; it also broke their four-game losing skid in out-of-town games, two of which happened in Lucena.
Still, Meralco will not dwell on that, instead shifting its focus to Game Three this Sunday, January 12.
For Durham, the Bolts still have things to work on such as their defense, since they nearly blew a 19-point advantage and allowed the Barangay to the game up at 70 late in the third quarter.
“We still have lapses on defense. You know, we got to shore up our defense, that’s number one,” he said.
“And then obviously we got to work on our box-and-1 offense and find a little better way to get everybody involved and get better shots. And if we can do that I think we can do better in Game Three.”
