Meralco started this week’s demanding PBA Governors’ Cup schedule on a winning note by destroying Northport, 109-99, thanks to a tremendous third-quarter comeback.

During the decisive third quarter, when the Bolts finally drew away from the Batang Pier, import Allen Durham led the way with 19 of his game-high 34 points.

After trailing by just three points at halftime, the Bolts defeated the Batang Pier 38–17 to take the lead in the game.

In a draw with TNT at the top of Group A, Meralco triumphed for the second straight game to increase their record to 3-1.

The Bolts play Converge FiberXers on Wednesday night when they return to the court, and over the weekend, they travel to Panabo City to play the Magnolia Hotshots.

“I thought our third quarter was solid all around. We’re a little bit choppy in the first, but I thought that third quarter was enough for us to have that bigger lead,” Coach Luigi Trillo said.

Durham, the three-time winner of the Best Import award, nearly recorded a triple double for Meralco, which was missing senior players Allein Maliksi, Raymond Almazan, Aaron Black, Norbert Torres, and Raymar Jose. He also had 16 rebounds and nine assists.

“Moving forward it’s going to be a tough stretch for us,” Trillo emphasized, pointing out that the Bolts will need to field a similarly thin squad for their next two games over the course of the next six days.

Additionally, Chris Banchero, who finished with 23 points, and Bong Quinto, who contributed 18, made significant contributions for Meralco.

Three days after scoring a franchise-high 51 points, Arvin Tolentino led Northport with 21 points. The two-game winning streak of the Batang Pier was broken, as Willi Navarro and Joshua Munzon scored 18 and 16, respectively. The Batang Pier now had an even 2-2 record.

However, in the last quarter, Tolentino was benched along with immigrant Venkie Jois, who finished with just six points and five rebounds.

The Scores

Meralco 109 – Durham 34, Banchero 24, 23, Quinto 18, Caram 10, Newsome 8, Pascual 6, Cansino 6, Rios 2, Mendoza 2, Bates 0, Hodge 0, Pasaol 0.

Northport 99 – Tolentino 21, Navarro 18, Munzon 16, Flores 8, Bulanadi 7, Jois 6, Amores 6, Cuntapay 6, Jalalon 5, Nelle 3, Yu 3, Tratter 0, Onwubere 0.

Quarter scores: 22-28; 52-49; 90-66; 109-99

Meanwhile, the management of the Dyip, who are still without a win in the PBA Governors’ Cup, is scheduled to meet with Terrafirma Coach Johnedel Cardel to talk about personnel matters.

Following Dyip’s crushing 124-103 loss to the Magnolia Hotshots on Sunday, Cardel announced he will have a sit-down conversation with team governor Bobby Rosales.

Juami Tiongson and Kemark Carino went down with injury for the Dyip during the game, and recruit Antonio Hester managed just two points from a single basket.

Tiongson, who claimed to have heard something pop in his right hamstring, will have an MRI by Monday.

The 33-year-old guard revealed he has been dealing with a sore calf throughout the last four games and is concerned that he might have made it worse.

Regarding Hester, Cardel stated that with six games left in Terrafirma’s schedule, there is currently no decision on whether Dyip would search for a new import.

Cardel said that Terrafirma’s performance versus Magnolia was exacerbated by Hester’s subpar performance.

Hester was pulled in at the last minute to cover for the injured Brandon Lee Edwards, and he is currently serving his second tour of duty with Terrafirma