2-0 record ililista ng Bolts at Road Warriors

MANILA, Philippines — Kapwa pupuntiryahin ng Me­ralco at NLEX ang ka­ni-kanilang ikalawang su­nod na panalo, habang bu­buksan ng North Port ang kampanya sa 2018 PBA Governor’s Cup.

Lalabanan ng Bolts ang TNT Katropang Texters ngayong alas-7 ng ga­bi matapos ang bakba­kan ng Road Warriors at Batang Pier sa alas-4:30 ng hapon sa Ynares Center sa Antipolo City.

Umiskor ang Meralco ng 109-106 panalo laban sa Columbian tampok ang 26 points, 20 re­bounds at 9 assists ni two--time PBA Best Import Allen Durham.

Sa kanyang ikatlong su­nod na paglalaro sa PBA ay na­katutok si Dur­ham sa pagbibigay sa Bolts ng ka­una-unahang korona ng prangkisa.

“I think we need a cham­pionship. It’s all about the team right now,” sabi ng 6-foot-5 na si Durham, da­lawang be­ses tinalo ni Justin Brownlee at ng Ginebra Gin Kings para sa titulo ng season-ending confe­rence. “I don’t have nothing to prove. I’ve been here for three years so I fo­cus on just a championship.”

Ayon kay one-time PBA Grand Slam champion head coach Norman Black, wala pa sa kanyang pa­matay na kondis­yon ang 30-anyos na si Dur­ham.

“It’s like he’s a little bit stronger than he was the last time he was around but I think he’ll get better as the confe­rence goes on,” ani Black. “Once he conti­nues to be in game shape then I expect better things out of him going for­ward.”

Hangad naman ng Tro­pang Texters na ma­ka­bawi mula sa 90-103 ka­biguan sa Road Warriors.

Sa naturang panalo ng NLEX ay humakot si Ni­gerian import Olu Ashaolu ng 33 points at 23 rebounds laban sa TNT Katropa.

Kinolekta ito ni Ashaolu bagama’t nagkaroon ng partial tear sa kanyang patellar tendon sa tune-up game ng Road Warriors laban sa Bolts.

Dahil dito ay nagha­ha­nap na ang NLEX, pan­sa­mantalang hinahawakan ni assistant coach Jojo Lastimosa, ng kapa­lit ni Ashaolu.

“I’ll try to keep pla­ying as long as I can,” sabi ng Ni­gerian-Ameri­can reinforcement. “I don’t wanna stop pla­ying but obviously I gotta take care of my knee for my fu­ture. But I’m here to do a job so we’ll figure it out.”