Durham had 36 points, 15 rebounds, and six assists in Meralco's 100-96 win over the Alaska Aces last July 17, but came away with a broken nose. In their subsequent games against TNT and Ginebra, he only scored an average of 15.5 points, and the Bolts lost both games to drop to 2-2 in the PBA Governors Cup.
Against Rain or Shine on Wednesday – Meralco's first game after the All-Star break – it appeared that Durham had recovered his old form. Wearing a black mask to protect his broken nose, he had 32 points, 12 rebounds, and five assists in a 109-102 win that was more comfortable than the final score indicated.
"It's definitely getting better with the mask," Durham said after the game.
"It helped us a great deal that Allen Durham played a lot better today," Meralco coach Norman Black acknowledged as well.
"He suffered a broken nose in the first couple of games back, and he was very tentative, and he lacked aggressiveness," Black added. "But today, he came out very aggressive right from the start of the game, penetrating the basket and getting offensive rebounds."
Durham's excellent performance against the Elasto Painters justified Black's decision to retain his services even after his subpar performances in their two losses.
"We never thought about replacing him," Black said. "The doctor never told us that we had to. The doctor said that he can continue to play, but with pain."
"So no, I won't be replacing him, no, not for a broken nose," he also said. "If he can't walk anymore, then I'll replace him."
Black believes Durham is getting used to the feeling of having to wear a mask, as he has been wearing one for three and a half weeks now.
"He's kind of used to having a broken nose already," he said. "He's not really tentative in his movements anymore, because his nose is actually healing."
Durham, for his part, is looking forward to the day when he can't
ake off the mask, but for now, he and the rest of the Bolts will continue to stay the course in an effort to reach the playoffs.
"We gotta just keep working hard in practice, don't let anything deter us from what we want to do," he said. "We got a great team, and we're gonna keep on pushing forward."
Source: ABS-CBN
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