Import gives Bolts big lift vs F Masters

Games today (MOA Arena) 3 p.m. – Blackwater vs NLEX 5:15 p.m. – Ginebra vs GlobalPort

The Meralco Bolts, drawing tremendous boost from import Allen Durham whom coach Norman Black dubbed “a thoroughbred,” stung the Phoenix Fuel Masters, 108103, in the opener of the 2016 PBA Governors Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum last night.

Durham, Barako Bull’s import replacement in the same tourney in 2014, churned out an overpowering performance in his PBA comeback, piling up 32 points, 22 rebounds and five assists to lead the Bolts past the Phoenix side under returning PBA coach Ariel Vanguardia.

The Bolts actually squandered a 15-point third-quarter lead but preserved the win as Durham imposed his will in the homestretch.

“I don’t want to call anybody a horse but he’s our thoroughbred. He’s a throw back to the old days. He can score, he can rebound, he’s a good teammate, he’s a willing passer,” said Black.

“He reminds me of Billy Ray Bates, Bobby Parks and David Thirdkill. He’s really a solid player and he has a great attitude that is hard to find in an import. He’s a very good package. Our offense and defense will go through him in the entire conference,” Black also said.

Providing some help was Iranian import Mohammad Jamshidi although he struggled with a 1-of-6 field goal shooting as he suited up with the Bolts just a day after his arrival in the country. He added 7-of-10 charities for nine points.

“We didn’t have a chance to practice with him. We used the Araneta parking court before the game to run the plays for him. We kept it as simple as possible,” said Black.

Mahindra survived a tough grind in regulation play and lived on in overtime, pulling off a 100-92 reversal over Star in the nightcap.

NOTES: Janine Nicandro worked the MeralcoPhoenix game with Nol Quilinguen, Jimmy Mariano and Sherwin Pineda and thus made history as the first woman referee to officiate in the league’s 41-year history. The Pagsanjan, Laguna native, a Laguna State Polytechnic U marketing graduate, had been in the PBA D-League for three years before graduating to the PBA. In her first PBA game, Nicandro called a technical foul on Phoenix’s Mark Borboran. The scores: First Game MERALCO 108 – Durham 32, Alapag 15, Dillinger 15, Newsome 13, Hodge 12, Jamshidi 9, Hugnatan 7, Caram 3, Nabong 2, Faundo 0, Uyloan 0.

PHOENIX 103 – Simmons 21, Enciso 16, Urbiztondo 12, Wilson J. 11, Wilson W. 11, Torres 8, Hee 7, Buenafe 6, Pennisi 6, Cruz 3, Borboran 2, Caperal 0, Miranda 0. Quarterscores: 25-23, 54-41, 75-71, 108-103 Second Game MAHINDRA 100 – White 22, Ramos 17, Mashaddy 15, Canaleta 10, Taha 10, Revilla 9, Aguilar 7, Jaime 7, Yee 3, Agovida 0, Bagatsing 0, Pinto 0, Ballesteros 0, Digregorio 0, Guinto 0, Elorde 0.

STAR 92 – Blakely 21, Barroca 15, Simon 12, Garcia 10, Pingris 8, Maliksi 6, Sangalang 6, Mallari 5, Reavis 5, Yap 4.

Quarterscores: 22-18, 41-42, 67-69, 87-87, 100-92