ANTIPOLO CITY – Allen Durham has nothing more to prove as an individual player and is eager to win a first PBA championship for the Meralco Bolts in his third tour of duty with the franchise.
Durham, adjudged Best Import of the last two editions of the season-ending conference, has yet to win a title with the team in two straight finals appearances opposite Barangay Ginebra.
He says finally it’s time to win one with the Bolts.
“I think we need a championship. It’s all about the team right now,” said Durham when asked about going for a third straight Best Import award. “I don’t have anything to prove. You guys see me play. I’ve been here for three years, so I just focus on just (winning) championship.”
Durham set his goal in motion on Friday night when he dropped 26 points and 20 rebounds as Meralco barely survived a fighting Columbian Dyip side at the Ynares Center.
The 30-year-old import admitted still not in tip-top shape since arriving less than two weeks before the conference opener.
“It’s a little bit rusty. I haven’t been here longer with the team,” he said.
That obviously showed in the first half against the Dyip as Durham and the Bolts struggled from the floor, with the import out of Wyoming limped to just seven points at the halftime break.
Everything changed starting the third quarter when Meralco switched to high gear and scored 42 points behind the 13 of Durham.
“We knew we have to tighten up on defense. That’s how we want to play basketball,” he said, “We want to get stops.
“When we started tightening up on defense, we got into our type of basketball.”
Durham wouldn’t think about another possible finals stint this early in the conference. But should the Bolts do make it back in the big stage, he’ll be more than glad whichever team they will face – be it two-time tormentor Barangay Ginebra or not.
“I’m not thinking about revenge or anything, We just have to finish the way we want to finish,” he stressed. “I’m just worried about us getting there, whoever is on the other side. We just got to finish.”
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