Chris Newsome came through in the clutch yet again as Meralco pulled the rug underneath Converge, 91-89, to start its PBA Season 49 Philippine Cup title defense bid on a winning note, Friday night at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
Tweaked ankle and all, the star guard got rid of Alec Stockton’s defense through a pump fake before pulling the trigger from free-throw distance, nailing the go-ahead jumper with eight-tenths of a second left to take the lead for good.
A missed attempt from the baseline by Stockton on the other end enabled the Bolts to complete the comeback after trailing by 20 in the first quarter.
“This guy in the end, he had a sprain, a couple of calls against him at the start so he got into foul trouble. I don’t think it was one of his better games, but he bailed us out,” said head coach Luigi Trillo post-game.
(C) PBA Images
Newsome finished with 15 points, six rebounds, and four assists, deservingly earning Player of the Game honors as he scored the team’s last five points.
He was also responsible for tying the game up at 89-all by hitting a triple in transition with 59.4 seconds left, setting up his heroic deed later on — hardly showing any ill effect of the ankle sprain he suffered early in the third.
Also crucial in the win was Bong Quinto, who nailed the triple before their main man tied it up with his own make from deep. He eventually finished with 14 points alongside six rebounds as well, together with three assists.
Raymond Almazan had 13 points and 12 rebounds as the veteran big man helped lead their first-half retaliation from a 27-7 deficit.
Raymar Jose and Aaron Black added 10 points apiece for Meralco, who joined Terrafirma as the early winners of the season-ending conference.
Both teams are coincidentally going to meet one another on Sunday, April 6, in the same venue to gain early leadership in the standings.
(C) PBA Images
Wasted by the meltdown, on the other hand, was the 23-point effort of Justin Arana to lead what was a solid, balanced attack by Converge.
Three others scored in double digits, with Stockton producing 17 points. Justine Baltazar had 14 points and 10 rebounds, while Deschon Winston added 13.
Unfortunately, the team’s inexperience was exposed in the loss, in which they failed to sustain a strong start that saw the squad play up-tempo only to be bitten by the reality that it would be hard to sustain as much all game.
The FiberXers will have a chance for a quick rebound when they take on Phoenix, which the Dyip beat earlier, on Sunday as well at 7:30 PM.
The Scores:
Meralco 91 – Newsome 15, Quinto 14, Almazan 13, Black 10, Jose 10, Reyson 8, Caram 6, Rios 5, Torres 3, Hodge 3, Cansino 2, Pascual 2, Bates 0, Pasaol 0
Comverge 89 – Arana 23, Stockton 17, Baltazar 14, Winston 13, Garcia 6, Santos 5, Delos Santos 4, Racal 2, Corpuz 2, Caralipio 2, Nermal 1, Ambohot 0, R. Santos 0, Suerte 0.
Quarterscores: 22-34, 42-44, 63-66, 91-89.
