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BY ADRIAN STEWART CO
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Friday, October 6, 2017
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MANILA – Meralco Bolts had to grind it out before escaping with a 91-88 Game 3 victory over Star Hotshots – a sweep of their PBA Governors’ Cup best-of-five semifinals series – last night at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum.
Import Allen Durham led the way with double-double 24 points and 19 rebounds while Cliff Hodge and Ranidel de Ocampo contributed 18 and 13 points, respectively, for Bolts.
This will be the second consecutive Governors’ Cup finals appearance of Bolts following its second place finish a year ago at the hands of Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Kings.
Bolts seemed headed for another lopsided win after building its largest lead 56-43 early in the third frame on a Hodge conversion but Hotshots turned to its local crew led by Mark Barroca and Marc Pingris to come to within 68-69.
Both teams moved on a snail’s pace in the fourth, with Bolts clinging to a 5-point edge, but Hotshots turned to Barroca and Jio Jalalon for an 83-79 lead. Back-to-back hits from Bolts’ Durham and Chris Newsome forced the overtime.
Meralco drew first blood in the extension period with a trey from Jared Dillinger and a pull-up jumper from de Ocampo for 88-83 but Hotshots countered with a basket from Barroca to come to within 85-88.
Bolts managed to pull away 91-85 with under a minute left following a triple from Hodge. Hotshots came to within 88-91 as Barroca answered with a quick three but Bolts’ defense held on to preserve the win.
Barroca finished with 21 points, 12 rebounds and eight assists while Pingris and Jalalon came up with 16 and 12, respectively, for Hotshots, which played without star guard Paul Lee./PN
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