Allen Durham took charge in the overtime period to pull off the 114-109 stunner over Ginebra in Game 1 of the 2016 PBA Governors’ Cup Finals Friday at Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Durham unloaded 46 points, seven of which coming in his scorching overtime assault to give his side a 109-102 advantage it would never surrender. He also had 13 rebounds, seven assists, two blocks and a steal in the win.
The Bolts completed an amazing comeback from 16-points down, 58-42 early in the third quarter and staged a memorable rally which almost saw Jimmy Alapag play the role of a hero, drilling his record-tying three, 101-100 with 33.4 seconds left on the clock in regulation.
Durham could only muster a split from the line in the final 6.8 ticks, which gave the Gin Kings a glimmer of hope, something which LA Tenorio seized, tying the game at 102 with a huge floater with just 2.1 seconds left.
Durham, though, wouldn’t be denied in the extra period, eviscerating the Ginebra frontline to tow his side to a 1-0 series lead in the best-of-7 series.
“It’s been happening to us for the last games. We just seem to hang in there and the offense just clicks. We seem to have a good finishing kick these days,” said coach Norman Black.
Chris Newsome had a rousing debut in the Finals with 17 markers, nine boards, and nine dimes, while Reynel Hugnatan got 15 points and eight rebounds in the victory.
Game 2 is on Sunday, still at the Big Dome.
Tenorio tallied a career-high 36 points, four rebounds, and three assists for Ginebra, while Justin Brownlee had 17 markers, eight boards, and four dimes in the loss.
The Scores:
MERALCO 114 – Durham 46, Newsome 17, Hugnatan 15, Alapag 13, Faundo 8, Amer 5, Caram 4, Hodge 4, Buenafe 2, Nabong 0, Uyloan 0.
GINEBRA 109 – Tenorio 36, Brownlee 17, Caguioa 14, Devance 13, Mercado 8, Thompson 8, Aguilar 6, Cruz 5, Marcelo 2, Mariano 0.
Quarters: 31-28, 42-53, 75-80, 102-102, 114-109.