Bolts shoot for second win vs debuting Aces

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Being the busiest team in the initial blast of action in the 2016 PBA Governors Cup, the Meralco Bolts have a chance to either build momentum early or find their spirit deflated early.

In winning their tournament debut versus the Phoenix Fuel Masters, 108-103, Friday, the Bolts take a shot at an early solo lead in going up against the Alaska Milk Aces in the third play date in the season-ending tourney at the Smart Araneta Coliseum Sunday.

“We’ve got back-to-back assignments right away. Hopefully, we win both and we build on it,” said Meralco coach Norman Black.

The Bolts and the Aces clash at 6:15 p.m. in an early rematch between the two teams that figured in a Final Four faceoff in the last Commissioner’s Cup.

The Aces beat the Bolts in the deciding Game Five to advance to the best-of-seven finale versus the eventual champs Rain or Shine Elasto Painters.

Alaska will now be playing minus Cyrus Baguio whom they traded to the Phoenix Fuel Masters on the eve of the season opener.

Allen Durham, a “balik-PBA” who impressed just everybody in his Meralco debut versus Phoenix, will face newcomer LaDontae Henton, among the early birds in the country whose preseason preparation with the Aces was hampered by a sprained ankle.

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 of their prized import.

“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 a total of nine points.

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

Old reliables Jimmy Alapag, Jared Dillinger, Cliff Hodge and Chris Newsome contributed double-digit outputs as the Bolts got off to a triumphant start in the tourney coming from a sorry exit in the Commissioner’s Cup.

Also with a solid import in Arinze Onuaku, the Bolts set the pace most of the mid-season tourney but crumbled in a deciding Game Five duel with the Alaska Milk Aces in the semifinals.

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