MANILA: Meralco coach Norman Black had always said that he needed some outside shots to fall in order for import Allen Durham to have some space to operate.
In probably the biggest game of their PBA lives, the Bolts responded in kind on Saturday night and Black got the most number of outside conversions from the veteran least expected to do it.
Reynel Hugnatan hit all but one of six triple tries and led Meralco to total 17 from beyond the arc in an exciting 119-113 decision of TNT KaTropa for a 2-1 lead in their best-of-five Governors’ Cup Final Four series at the Araneta Coliseum in Cubao.
And with Black getting a lot of locals to step up, Durham didn’t need to do a lot as the Bolts, given little chance against their powerhouse sister team, can go for the clincher — and their first title series appearance — on Monday night also at the fabled Big Dome floor.
“I couldn’t be prouder of my players for getting over the hump,” Black said as his crew started the game more of the underdog with Jared Dillinger declared out for the rest of the season because of a hamstring pull. “This is a crucial win for us, but it is not over yet.”
Jimmy Alapag gunned down four, the last heading into the final minute which gave the Bolts a 117-111 lead. That conversion also put the “Mighty Mouse” within two of overtaking the great Allan Caidic for most triples made in a career.
Caidic, the lefty who played his greatest years with defunct Presto and later on San Miguel, has a total of 1,242 treys in a 17-year career.
“We got a lot of contributions from a lot of people,” Black went on. “Everybody chipped in as far as points are concerned.”
Rookies Baser Amer and Chris Newsome also shone, especially in the frenetic fourth quarter where Newsome converted on back-to-back contested dunks that electrified the lean crowd.
Amer, on the other hand, hit all 12 of his points in the final frame, counting two triples, that defanged the Texters, who lost back-to-back games for the first time in the season-closing conference.
It was easily the best game that Meralco played in the conference and the Bolts didn’t need Durham to do everything.
The victory was also, in a way, gratifying, since it came with TNT also playing its best. The Game 2 victory by Meralco on Thursday clearly did not have the Texters at their finest.
Durham scored just 23 points, had 11 rebounds and five assists. He scored just two free throws in the final frame, which was nothing less than a shootout.
Jason Castro fired 28 and had 10 assists, with Larry Fonacier finishing with 20 and Ranidel de Ocampo 15.
Ginebra goes for clincher
Meanwhile, Barangay Ginebra shoots for the first best-of-seven title series slot Sunday when the Gin Kings, fresh from a 97-96 nipping of San Miguel Beer two nights ago, slug it out with the Beermen in Game 4 of their separate series.
Ginebra coach Tim Cone doesn’t believe that they gained momentum with that win and will be trying to make all the right adjustments again to lead Ginebra back to the Finals for the first time since 2013.
Game time is 6:30 p.m. with Ginebra expecting to get a bigger game from Justin Brownlee and consistent all-around numbers from guards LA Tenorio and rookie Scottie Thompson.
Thompson completed a triple-double in Game 3 and, in the process, became the first rookie in 23 years since Johnny Abarrientos chalked one up for Alaska. He had 12 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists.
June Mar Fajardo, the reigning two-time MVP, said that he and his Beermen must remain patient, especially during the endgame, for San Miguel to have a chance of extending this series to a decider.
In probably the biggest game of their PBA lives, the Bolts responded in kind on Saturday night and Black got the most number of outside conversions from the veteran least expected to do it.
Reynel Hugnatan hit all but one of six triple tries and led Meralco to total 17 from beyond the arc in an exciting 119-113 decision of TNT KaTropa for a 2-1 lead in their best-of-five Governors’ Cup Final Four series at the Araneta Coliseum in Cubao.
And with Black getting a lot of locals to step up, Durham didn’t need to do a lot as the Bolts, given little chance against their powerhouse sister team, can go for the clincher — and their first title series appearance — on Monday night also at the fabled Big Dome floor.
“I couldn’t be prouder of my players for getting over the hump,” Black said as his crew started the game more of the underdog with Jared Dillinger declared out for the rest of the season because of a hamstring pull. “This is a crucial win for us, but it is not over yet.”
Jimmy Alapag gunned down four, the last heading into the final minute which gave the Bolts a 117-111 lead. That conversion also put the “Mighty Mouse” within two of overtaking the great Allan Caidic for most triples made in a career.
Caidic, the lefty who played his greatest years with defunct Presto and later on San Miguel, has a total of 1,242 treys in a 17-year career.
“We got a lot of contributions from a lot of people,” Black went on. “Everybody chipped in as far as points are concerned.”
Rookies Baser Amer and Chris Newsome also shone, especially in the frenetic fourth quarter where Newsome converted on back-to-back contested dunks that electrified the lean crowd.
Amer, on the other hand, hit all 12 of his points in the final frame, counting two triples, that defanged the Texters, who lost back-to-back games for the first time in the season-closing conference.
It was easily the best game that Meralco played in the conference and the Bolts didn’t need Durham to do everything.
The victory was also, in a way, gratifying, since it came with TNT also playing its best. The Game 2 victory by Meralco on Thursday clearly did not have the Texters at their finest.
Durham scored just 23 points, had 11 rebounds and five assists. He scored just two free throws in the final frame, which was nothing less than a shootout.
Jason Castro fired 28 and had 10 assists, with Larry Fonacier finishing with 20 and Ranidel de Ocampo 15.
Ginebra goes for clincher
Meanwhile, Barangay Ginebra shoots for the first best-of-seven title series slot Sunday when the Gin Kings, fresh from a 97-96 nipping of San Miguel Beer two nights ago, slug it out with the Beermen in Game 4 of their separate series.
Ginebra coach Tim Cone doesn’t believe that they gained momentum with that win and will be trying to make all the right adjustments again to lead Ginebra back to the Finals for the first time since 2013.
Game time is 6:30 p.m. with Ginebra expecting to get a bigger game from Justin Brownlee and consistent all-around numbers from guards LA Tenorio and rookie Scottie Thompson.
Thompson completed a triple-double in Game 3 and, in the process, became the first rookie in 23 years since Johnny Abarrientos chalked one up for Alaska. He had 12 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists.
June Mar Fajardo, the reigning two-time MVP, said that he and his Beermen must remain patient, especially during the endgame, for San Miguel to have a chance of extending this series to a decider.
