Connect with us

Hi, what are you looking for?

Tiebreaker Times

Basketball

Rust played a factor in Meralco’s Game One loss, rues Durham


Meralco was ‘feeling rusty’ in its 2019 PBA Governors’ Cup semifinal opener versus the TNT KaTropa on Sunday evening. 

Import Allen Durham offered the assessment after he and the Bolts absorbed a 94-103 defeat at the hands of their sister team that put them behind in the best-of-five series, 0-1.

“We were off for a while. We definitely felt the rust in the first three quarters,” said Durham, who had 32 points and 21 rebounds in the loss.

“Our offense was bad, our defense was bad.”

Things turned from bad to worse for Meralco in the second half. TNT led by only three early in the third canto, but found its groove on and made a 14-4 blitz en route to a 65-52 lead with 5:45 to go.

The Texters then led by as many as 22, 87-65, following a KJ McDaniels three-point play with 8:09 left in the fourth.

Still, Durham and the Bolts tried to fight back, even pulling within just eight points, 89-97, with 1:37 left to play. Unfortunately for them, McDaniels and Pogoy hit back-to-back buckets to put the match away.

For Durham, they cannot just flip the switch late in the game, especially against a team like the KaTropa, who beat them in the eliminations, 116-113, last October 12.

“Against this type of team we can’t start playing with just six minutes left in the game and expect to be okay,” he said.

Game Two is set on Tuesday, and Durham hopes that Sunday’s game has helped Meralco shake off that rust.

#ReadMore  Though relieved to be back, Terrence Romeo says conditioning is still really far

“I hope so,” said the two-time Best Import.

“I think we got to figure out how to be better in defense, and on offense we got to move with more rhythm and as we do that, I think we’d be okay.”

Written By

Oftentimes on the sidelines. Forever a student of the game. Morayta-bred.


You May Also Like

Basketball

Another edition of the Manila Clasico will take place on Christmas Day as the PBA on Monday unveiled the full 2024-25 Commissioner’s Cup schedule....

Basketball

Akil Mitchell delivered a sensational debut performance for Meralco, scoring 33 points and grabbing 22 rebounds to lead the Bolts to a thrilling 81-80...

Basketball

Allen Durham has retired from professional basketball at the age of 36 following his last appearance on the court with Meralco in Okinawa. The...

Basketball

Allen Durham made his return to Okinawa as a member of Meralco, but the night ended in disappointment as they succumbed to Ryukyu, 77-74,...

Basketball

Meralco and San Miguel experienced contrasting starts to their 2024-25 East Asia Super League (EASL) campaigns at the SM Mall of Asia Arena on...

Basketball

Ginebra brought out the brooms and swept Meralco, 113-106, to book the first seat to the PBA Season 49 Governors’ Cup semifinals, Monday evening....

Basketball

Justin Brownlee wielded his endgame magic time and again to lift Ginebra past Meralco, 104-103, and move a win away from the PBA Season...

Basketball

Justin Brownlee showed the way as Barangay Ginebra withstood Meralco in another playoff battle between old foes, 99-92, to take Game 1 of their...

Advertisement