Bolts halt Beermen, seal top playoff spot

MANILA, Philippines — Meralco gained a major breakthrough in franchise history last night as it ended a two-year losing spell versus San Miguel Beer and claimed playoff top seeding on a 104-101 conquest of the Beermen at the close of the PBA Governors Cup eliminations at the Smart Araneta Coliseum last night.

Reigning Best Import Allen Durham again came through with a monstrous game and himself presided over a crucial closing flurry that lifted the Bolts past the Beermen and into No. 1 finish in the elims with a 9-2 win-loss card.

The Bolts will enjoy a twice-to-beat advantage in taking on the eighth seeded Blackwater Elite in the quarterfinals tomorrow.

“It’s a big win for the Meralco program,” said coach Norman Black on the achievement of the ball club that’s in chase of a first PBA championship.

“The playoffs will be more difficult. We’ll focus now on preparing against Blackwater that has improved and has really been playing well as of late. We have to be ready,” Black also said.

With the loss, the grand slam-chasing Beermen, meanwhile, dropped all the way to sixth place. They play defending champion and third seed Barangay Ginebra in the quarters.

The other quarters pairings pit No. 2 TnT KaTropa versus Rain or Shine and No. 4 Star opposite No. 5 NLEX.

 The Bolts, the Texters, the Kings and the Hotshots were the teams that earned the crucial twice-to-beat quarters incentive.

The Hotshots salvaged a spot in the Top Four as they rallied from 15 points down and upended the Road Warriors, 101-93, earlier in the night.

Meralco’s win over San Miguel also helped Star’s cause.

Durham provided tremendous boost on Meralco’s stirring come-from-behind triumph over San Miguel with 35 points, 13 rebounds and eight assists.