Durham eager to keep hunting for elusive PBA title with Meralco

MANILA, Philippines — The partnership between Allen Durham and the Meralco Bolts may not be over just yet.

Failing to capture the crown for the second straight year, Durham expressed that he is looking forward to rejoining the Bolts in the third conference of the next PBA season.

“Hopefully I can come back next year as we go at it again,” he said after Meralco’s 96-101 loss to Barangay Ginebra in Game Seven of the PBA Governors' Cup Friday night. “Eventually something’s gotta give.”

But despite the optimism, the two-time Best Import awardee couldn’t help but show his emotions.

“It hurts,” he shared. “We gotta figure out a way to get over this hump … Last year we lost in Game Six. This year, we pushed it to Game Seven.”

And of course, the regrets followed.

“We started a little too late with the spots,” noted Durham.

But despite back-to-back bids that came up short, the American import added that one should give credit where it is due.

“You know, they’re a great team. They kept their foot on the gas,” he noted. “We lost to a good team. We don’t have to be ashamed or anything like that.”

The work horse mounted another valiant stand before a record audience. He finished with  26 points and 24 boards, falling six point short of avenging last year’s loss to the Gin Kings.