Meralco, bracing for a battle against San Miguel Beer Sunday, exerted just enough effort to get past an import-less GlobalPort side, 100-93, and regain a share of the lead with Barangay Ginebra with two play dates to go in the PBA Governors Cup eliminations at the MOA Arena in Pasay City Friday night.
Allen Durham asserted himself and collected triple-double numbers with 22 points, 22 rebounds and 10 assists leading a dominant ride by the Bolts against the GlobalPort squad minus an import and top local Terrence Romeo.
The Batang Pier lost their last game badly as they played without an import, with supposed reinforcement sub Jamal Thomas being measured above the 6-foot-5 ceiling.
Chris Newsome also churned out solid all-around numbers with 28 markers, seven boards and five dish-offs as Meralco caught up with Ginebra at 8-2 - slates that guarantee the Bolts and the Kings of at least a tie for No. 4 spot.
Meralco and Ginebra seek to avoid complications of logjam in their final game in the single-round-robin elims.
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It's Ginebra against TNT KaTropa at 5:15 p.m. Saturday and Meralco opposite San Miguel Beer at 6:45 p.m. Sunday.
Cashing in heavily on their domination off the boards, the Bolts took a nine-point lead at the half and pulled away for good in the third quarter.
The Batang Pier made it look like a close game on flurries late in the game.
GlobalPort finished the tourney with measly three wins against eight losses.
The Bolts tore the Batang Pier apart on their 55-32 advantage in rebounding.
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Sans an import and Romeo, Sean Anthony and Jonathan Grey led the fight for the Batang Pier, coming through with 23 and 16 points, respectively.
They were in the fight in the opening quarter.
GlobalPort flew in a prospective import in Thomas as Murphey Holloway suffered an injury. Bad luck hounded the Batang Pier all the way to the last day of their Governors Cup stint with Thomas flunking the height test. (SB)
