ACES OUT TO STOP DURHAM, ENERGY

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Maybe watching a video of that 1988 Kevin Costner baseball flick ‘Bull Durham’ would give the Alaska Aces some clue on how to deal with Barako Bull’s monstrous-playing import.

But then again as two earlier opponents found out, maybe it won’t.

The Aces plunge headlong into a pit where Allen Durham had been wreaking havoc since his arrival to replace Eric Wise, leading Barako Bull to back-to-back victories, including one against league leader Talk ‘N Text, no less.

The two clash at 3 p.m. at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on the penultimate day of the PLDT Home Telpad PBA Governors’ Cup eliminations.

Facing ouster after suffering their fifth loss in six games, the Energy  brought in the former Grace Bible College of Wyoming star and promptly turned their fortunes around, routing GlobalPort, 122-98, in Biñan, Laguna and then leaving the Tropang Texters in disarray, 88-74.

Durham, recommended initially by former Air21 import Wesley Witherspoon to the Express, brought down the house with a triple double right on his debut last June 8 against the Batang Pier, with 37 points, 24 rebounds and 10 assists. He also had three block shots.

He then ran rings around the vaunted TNT defense with 28 points, 29 rebounds and three assists, a steal and two blocks in 42 minutes, putting to shame Texters’ import Paul Harris.

Henry Walker, the Aces import, now gets his chance at containing the bull within Allen Durham, who, so far, appears to have shown only partial aspects of his overall game.

Walker had 16 points, including a thunderous dunk in the second half, as the Aces clobbered listless Barangay Ginebra San Miguel, 79-66, last Friday at the Mall of Asia Arena. Rebounding splendidly from that epic 51-point loss to Rain or Shine, Alaska downed San Mig Super Coffee, 93-84, before forcing the Kings to miss 13 of 14 three-point attempts and give 27 points off 27 turnovers.

That win claimed an outside casualty in the Meralco Bolts, who were ousted from playoff contention.

Alaska, at 4-4, continues to fan faint hopes of joining the twice-to-beat teams, which need only to win once over their playoff opponents to advance to the semifinals. Barako Bull, at 3-5 and regardless of the outcome of its game against the Aces, is sitting pretty at eighth place in the standings, having secured the last slot to the playoffs.

Barako Bull coach Siot Tanquingcen maintains a low key despite their late run.

“It’s a good feeling pero siyempre twice to beat pa rin yung nasa taas,” he said. “We gotta keep working to get better. Durham makes a big difference kasi nagkakaroon ng kumpiyansa yung mga kakampi niya na tumira kasi alam nila na malakas kumuha ng rebound. Not to take anything from Eric Wise, but Durham is a good fit for us. Kasi noong nawala si Dorian (Peña) to injury, parang donut kami e.”

So who among the Aces wish to get the first crack at Bull Durham? (WJRHT)

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