By james art MANILA Philippines — Huge import Alan Durham has decided to retire from professional basketball just weeks after helping a failed Meralco team reach the quarterfinals of the PBA Season 49 Governors’ Cup.
Durham, 36, is calling it quits after 14 years playing professionally since graduating from Grace Bible College in 2011.
Meralco coach Luigi Trillo confirmed that the team nicknamed the American import, “The Hulk,” was given a fitting send-off by the Bolts, with Durham scheduled to leave for the US on Thursday.
“He had thoughts during our match against Ryukyu. He has been playing straight for 13 years,” Trillo told the Manila Times. “I’m glad you made the decision. Although I don’t agree with him. I still feel like he still has game. He dropped close to 40 in his last game here.”
The burly American was credited
by Trillo to build the foundation for a Meralco side that reached the finals three times in 2016, 2017 and 2019 before losing each time to the Justin Brownlee-led Barangay Ginebra.
Trillo said they took time to appreciate the contributions of Durham, who has set the bar high during his many stints with the franchise.
“Although we have a more experienced team now and I think we have some young guys to build the team around,” shared the one-time PBA Coach of the Year. “(We’re) always looking for guys who have that edge. AD (Durham’s initials) had that edge.”
Durham was set to return to bolster Meralco in 2020, but the pandemic prevented the hard-working American from doing so.
When overseas travel eased, Durham eventually decided to play in Japan, stepping up with the Niigata Albirex before spending the next three seasons with the Ryukyu Golden Kings.
In 2023, Durham led the Golden Kings to the Japan B.League Championship, while subsequently being named the Finals Most Valuable Player.
The three-time PBA Most Valuable Player ended up reuniting with the Bolts in the Governors’ Cup this season just a few months after Meralco won its first league title in the Philippine Cup last season.
For now, the Bolts are still looking for a new import to take Durham’s place in the EASL (East Asian Super League).
Durham led Meralco to a 1-1 record in EASL Season 2 after defeating the Macau Black Bears 97-85 before dropping a narrow 77-74 decision to the Golden Kings in Okinawa, Japan.