Meralco import Delroy James had himself a triple-double in just his second game in the PBA, Friday night.
James — who is the third import of the Bolts in the 2019 PBA Commissioner’s Cup — produced 17 points, 11 rebounds, and 10 assists in the Orangemen’s clash with the NorthPort Batang Pier.
Unfortunately, his efforts went down the drain as Meralco lost, 92-93, no thanks to Robert Bolick’s game-winner.
For the eight-year journeyman, it was a tough one for them, especially knowing that they won in various statistical departments such as rebounds (57-50), turnovers (12-18), and assists (27-22).
“We namely won every stats except points — we had less turnovers, more rebounds, more assists,” James said.
“But they had the most important stats and they came out with the win.”
But as tough as the loss was, the former FIBA Champions League titlist with Greek ball club AEK Athens shared that Friday night’s game was one of the best games he has figured into.
The match saw lots of deadlocks and lead changes, and James was very much a part of it — he had actually given the Bolts a 92-90 edge after a tough lay-up with 44.3 seconds left to play.
But then, the Batang Pier came back. Prince Ibeh split his foul shots about 12 seconds later after James’ lay-up, and Bolick made the tough bucket with 4.3 ticks left to give NorthPort the edge.
Meralco still had a chance to win it but Chris Newsome’s reverse lay-up of a baseline drive missed.
“Was a tough game for us. One of the best games I’ve played in, though, to be honest, in terms of back-and-forth, everybody playing for something, everybody in the locker room,” he said.
“That’s a hell of a team (NorthPort) over there, all credit to them. But I felt like we fought hard, as a team, we fought hard — everybody could see that,” added the Guyanese-American cager.
The Bolts’ playoff chances have become slimmer following the loss, as it dropped them to 3-7. And if they want to fan their hopes of making it, they will have to go through the San Miguel Beermen.
It might be a tough game for Meralco, given the fact that SMB is currently riding a two-game winning streak since bringing in new import Chris McCullough as a replacement for Charles Rhodes.
James knows he will have his hands full once he goes up against the former NBA cager, but he’s banking on familiarity — James said that he’s played against his fellow New Yorker McCullough before.
“He’s a guy from New York. We’re both from New York. Played against him some times back home in New York. He’s a very, very amazing talent,” said the 32-year-old James.
“He could do everything on the basketball court. It will be tough for us, but we should be ready.”
