Meralco needs to attack early vs Magnolia, says Durham

Meralco Bolts’ Chris Newsome and Javee Mocon during a game against Magnolia Hotshots in the 2026 PBA Commissioner’s Cup quarterfinals. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines—Former Meralco import Allen Durham was in attendance for the Bolts’ PBA Commissioner’s Cup quarterfinals game against Magnolia.

His watch party, however, did not have the happy ending he had hoped for as fifth seed Magnolia escaped with a 95-89 win at Ninoy Aquino Stadium to force a do-or-die game for a semifinals berth.

Having been in the same situation before during his stint with the Bolts, Durham knows what the Bolts need to do for their rubber match against the Hotshots.

“I think they just have to come out and play aggressive from the start,” he told the Inquirer at Ninoy Aquino Stadium on Wednesday.

“I think them building back up took so much energy, so once it got down to the last three minutes, they had already spent so much energy trying to come back into the game.”

Meralco trailed by as many as 19 points before storming back and trimming the deficit to one late in the fourth quarter.

But the Bolts ran out of steam in the closing minutes, allowing Magnolia to stay alive in the series.

One player who struggled for Meralco was import Marvin Jones, who finished with 16 points and six rebounds while shooting just 3-of-15 from the field.

Despite the rough shooting night, Durham still believed Jones did his part.

“I think he played pretty good. He just missed shots that he normally makes. He had a couple bunnies but if those bunnies fall, it’ll be a completely different game,” Durham said.