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[av_heading heading=’Meralco crushes Kia for Govs’ Cup top slot ‘ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=” subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=”]
BY ADRIAN STEWART CO
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MANILA – Import Allen Durham managed triple doubles as Meralco Bolts ran away with a 112-97 rout of Kia Picanto in the Oppo PBA Governors’ Cup.
Adding to Durham’s 25 points, with 11 rebounds and 13 assists, were Chris Newsome’s 19, Baser Amer’s 17 and Garvo Lanete’s 14 – all contributing to Meralco’s surge to the top of the standings 4-0.
“I thought it was a very good effort from my team offensively and defensively,” said Bolts head coach Norman Black. “We wanted to be very focused. We didn’t want to stumble because our goal is to stay in the Top 4 and get a twice-to-beat advantage.”
Coming off a tight exchange in the opening quarter, Meralco – bucking injuries on Clifford Hodge and Negrense Reynel Hugnatan – pulled away on four straight baskets by Newsome for a 21-13 lead. An inside by Hugnatan followed by a trey by Newsome raised the lead 26-15.
Kia tried to reduce the deficit in the second quarter during the Sunday night game at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum but Meralco unloaded another huge run courtesy of Durham and Lanete for a 57-41 advantage at the half.
With three consecutive outside shots by Amer, Bolts pulled away further in the second half to build its largest lead 76-52 on a three-pointer by Lanete.
Reinforcement Markeith Cummings led the way with 20 points while Reden Celda and Glenn Khobuntin added 17 and 13 points, respectively, for Picanto, which dropped to 0-5./PN
SCORES
MERALCO 112 – Durham 25, Newsome 19, Amer 17, Lanete 14, Caram 8, Dillinger 8, Nabong 7, Hugnatan 6, Chua 4, Faundo 4, Hodge 0, Daquioag 0, Sedurifa 0
KIA 97 – Cummings 20, Celda 17, Khobuntin 13, Yee 11, Nimes 8, Corpuz 8, Revilla 6, Deutchman 5, Paniamogan 4, Camson 3, Ballesteros 2, Elorde 0, Teng 0, Salva 0
QUARTERS – 26-15, 57-41, 82-66, 112-97
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