MANILA -- Allen Durham saved Meralco anew as he scored the game-winner to lift the team to an 85-83 win against Ginebra in Game 4 of the PBA Governors' Cup Finals at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City Friday night.
Durham converted the go-ahead lay-up with 47 seconds left, as the Bolts tied the best-of-seven series at 2-all, assuring that the tie will go to Game 6.
They were actually on the verge of falling to a 1-3 series hole as they trailed, 78-81, with 1:58 to go.
Durham, however, scored a quick basket with 1:50 on the clock that cut the gap to one, 80-81.
He then failed to tie the game as he missed the bonus free throw off a Joe Devance foul. But Baser Amer made up for the missed freebie as he buried a huge triple that gave them an 83-81 lead with 1:18 remaining.
Justin Brownlee then shot two charities with 1:07 to go to knot the count at 83-all, but Reynel Hugnatan found Durham underneath the basket for the clutch lay-in.
The Barangay tried to get the lead back, but Brownlee and Sol Mercado missed three-pointers.
Mercado made up for the botched triple as he blocked Jared Dillinger's potential dagger shot, but it came at a price, as Mercado sprained his ankle afterward.
With 16 seconds left, Ginebra had ample time to execute the potential equalizer or game-winner, but Coach Tim Cone did not use one ceasefire and let his team go for it.
Brownlee missed a jumper but got the ball back only to fail in putting it back in before time expired.
Durham finished with 28 points, 18 rebounds, two assists, two steals, and two blocks for Meralco, which can steal the upperhand in Game 5 as the series shifts to the Philippine Arena in Bocaue for its remainder.
Chris Newsome added 18 points, 11 rebounds, four assists, and one steal.
Brownlee's 34-point explosion went down the drain as the series is now down to a best-of-three affair with all the games happening up north in Bulacan.
Box Scores:
Meralco 85: Durham 28, Newsome 18, Hugnatan 14, Amer 11, Hodge 7, Dillinger 2, Caram 2, Faundo 2, Lanete 1, Tolomia 0
Ginebra 83: Brownlee 34, Devance 15, Caguioa 8, Aguilar 7, Slaughter 6, Cruz 4, Thompson 4, Ferrer 3, Helterbrand 2, Tenorio 0, Mercado 0
Quarterscores: 17-17, 41-40, 68-63, 85-83 (PNA)
