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PBA: Baser Amer layup helps Meralco hold off Columbian

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ABS-CBN News

Meralco held off tenacious Columbian Dyip to hammer out a 109-106 win to open the 2018 PBA Governors&#x27; Cup at Ynares Center in Antipolo on Friday.Despite overcoming a 14-point deficit in the first half, the Bolts still had to grind it out in the final minutes of the game.Fortunately, Baser Amer salvaged the victory with a layup for Meralco.Amer and returning reinforcement Allen Durham finished with 26 points each.&quot;It&#x27;s a tough win... their import is very good,&quot; said Meralco coach Norman Black.Columbian sprang to a strong start, piling points from the 3-point line to take a 53-43 advantage in the first half.But Meralco made crucial adjustments in the third quarter, controlling the offensive boards while unleashing Durham to dump 42 points in the quarter and grab an 85-76 lead.The Dyip, however, refused to go away, giving the Bolts a big fight while chopping the deficit to just 104-100 with more than 3 minutes to go.Glen Khobuntin&#x27;s hard drive to the basket tied the count 106-all. But Amer&#x27;s jumper swung the lead back to the Bolts and Columbian&#x27;s Akeem Wright fell hard to the floor. Everything went downhill for the Dyip since.Wright finished with 30 points before hobbling his way out of the court in the final seconds&quot;Our first half is a little bit shaky, but we played a lot better in the third quarter tonight. We gave (the lead) away at the start of the fourth quarter but we recovered enough to be able to win the game,&quot; said Black.&quot;We&#x27;ll try to get better defensively and get Allen Durham a little bit more adjusted. Once he gets in better shape in the weather we&#x27;re in, in time he&#x27;ll play much better.&quot;(For more sports coverage, visit the <a href="http://sports.abs-cbn.com/">ABS-CBN Sports website</a>.)

Meralco held off a tenacious Columbian Dyip squad to hammer out a 109-106 win in the PBA Governors' Cup at Ynares center in Antipolo.

Meralco held off a tenacious Columbian Dyip squad to hammer out a 109-106 win in the PBA Governors' Cup at Ynares center in Antipolo.