Allen Durham was the happiest when Meralco finally broke through and won its first PBA championship by ruling the Season 48 Philippine Cup.
Although he wasn’t with his brothers-in-arms to celebrate due to his commitment in Japan, the three-time Best Import couldn’t be any prouder to see his Bolts strike gold after falling short in all of its four previous trips to the Finals.
“Man, I was excited for the guys,” he shared. “I was over in Japan and I was watching the games a little bit here and there. I’m so happy that they got over the hump. And so now, everybody knows what it takes, you know.”
Durham said as much during the league’s Media Day on Tuesday at the Le Parc Event Hall. He’s in Manila once more as he’s set to run it back with Meralco for the upcoming Season 49 Governors’ Cup that opens shop on August 18.
“Being back here, it feels like it’s back at home,” said the Michigan-native, who spent the last three years with the Ryukyu Golden Kings of the B.League.
It will be his first PBA stint in about four years, or since reinforcing the MVP franchise in the 2019-20 edition of the import-laden conference.
That tilt witnessed the Bolts go all the way to the Finals, only to lose to long-time tormentors Justin Brownlee and Barangay Ginebra San Miguel.
It was yet another heartbreaker for Durham himself since a PBA title eluded him yet again but he has renewed hope that the script may flip in his return.
Aside from having the championship experience that he mentioned, the present-day Meralco, he believes, has the pieces to win another crown.
“The PBA is very tough. Tough teams and stuff. But I think we got better tools and stuff like that so I think we can have a good chance at it,” he said.
As optimistic as he is, though, Durham is still in the midst of readjustment as he joins a Meralco team with faces that weren’t around during his previous campaign, which includes active consultant Nenad Vucinic.
“I’m still trying to learn the coach, the new system, and stuff like that. But the guys seem to like the new adjustment and stuff and the system and everything, so I’m excited to learn it and get involved in it more,” he said.
