Mutual respect can certainly bloom even in the middle of a heated rivalry.

And that’s exactly what Barangay Ginebra head coach Tim Cone and Justin Brownlee have for Meralco’s Allen Durham, who may have been the biggest thorn to the side of the Kings every time they take on the Bolts.

“It's tough, it's always been tough. Allen has always been one of the best imports in my opinion in the PBA. It's always been tough,” said Brownlee, who may have Durham's number in their matchups but nonetheless made sure to tip his hat off to the Meralco hulking import.

“We got history with Meralco and Ginebra playing in the finals with him with Meralco but it always been tough and I got to give him a lot of credit, the effort he showed was great it is definitely a winning effort it's just unfortunate to him he didn't get the win,” he added.

Just like the old times, Brownlee and Durham engaged in a thrilling duel in Game 2 of the PBA Season 49 Governors’ Cup quarterfinals. 

Both of them finished with 39 points, but just like in their past meetings in the playoff, Brownlee had the last laugh drilling the go-ahead triple over Durham’s outstretched arms to lift the Kings to a nail-biting 104-103 win.

“I just give a lot of credit to him for what he's been doing to Meralco now not only this year but the previous years as well,” added Brownlee.

After a so-so performance in Game 1 and when exactly when his fitness ang age put in question, Durham responded well and even put the Bolts ahead, 103-101 in the waning seconds after a clutch and-1 play.

He also shot 4-of-7 from deep after firing blanks in six attempts in Game 1.

Cone admitted that while Ginebra was not caught blindsided by Durham’s bounce back game, the Kings could only do much against the prolific import.

“We thought he would come out super aggressive because we did a pretty good job of limiting him and limiting his touches, rebounding and seals,” Cone said of Durham.

“It's a complete turnaround performance by him. We expected it and it is just one of those things like that of an oncoming train. You see it, you know it, you wanted to go out of the way but you can't and that was Durham. We tried really hard,” he added.