Meralco Bolts’ Allen Durham against Terrafirma defenders within the PBA Governors’ Cup. –PBA IMAGES
Meralco could only preach the necessity for others to choose up the slack because the Bolts took a share of the lead in Group A of the PBA Governors’ Cup eliminations, despite being ravaged with injuries through three games.
“It’s next man up, but I’m confident with what the opposite guys are doing,” coach Luigi Trillo said after the Bolts improved to 2-1 within the season-opening conference on Wednesday with a 107-91 victory over the Terrafirma Dyip at Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
The Bolts tied the TNT Tropang Giga and Converge FiberXers on top of the group despite coping with the absence of skipper Chris Newsome (ankle), Aaron Black (knee) and Raymond Almazan (back).
Newsome was in uniform, however the Bolts decided it could be best to sit down out the hero of last season’s Philippine Cup Finals run after spraining his ankle twice against TNT last week. Black, meanwhile, went down with a meniscus tear this time.
Lively consultant Nenad Vucinic was also not within the venue, with Trillo saying that the Serbian mentor was “throwing up” up to now few days.
But when there’s anything Meralco will be pleased with is that Allein Maliksi finally saw motion after being sidelined the primary two games with a thigh issue, while Almazan is anticipated to be back on Sunday against NorthPort.
Import Allen Durham, Trillo believes, is showing signs of regaining the shape that made a daily fixture before his Japan gig the last three years, because the three-time Best Import posted 23 points that went with 12 rebounds, three assists and two steals.
“I feel he found his groove today,” said Trillo of Durham. “I feel the longer the tournament goes, the [more] he’s getting in shape.”
Terrafirma fell to a dismal 0-3 record to stay at the underside of the group, with all defeats coming in double digits.
To reclaim lead
Meanwhile, TNT and Magnolia clash at the identical venue on Thursday, with the Tropang Giga looking for to place behind the pain of a stinging loss to Converge the opposite night.
TNT is decided to get back on course after squandering a large lead before falling, 96-95, after allowing FiberXers import Scotty Hopson to knock down the primary four-point game-winner in league history last Tuesday.
Magnolia is at 1-1 after bouncing back from its loss to Meralco on opening night. The Hotshots own a victory over Converge, 105-93, last week.
Converge, also eyeing to stay on top of Group A, battles NorthPort within the 5 p.m. opener, with an interesting subplot at hand.
FiberXers assistant coach Danny Ildefonso was fined P20,000 by the league for responding on social media to a contract stalemate involving his son Dave and the Batang Pier management.
The younger Ildefonso was taken fifth in July’s Rookie Draft, but has yet to come back to terms with NorthPort.
His dad, the two-time MVP during his celebrated playing days with San Miguel Beer, clapped back at a few netizens and made reference to the words “farm team.”
