Chris Newsome sank the game-winner at the buzzer as Meralco dealt Magnolia its first loss, 95-94, in the 2021 Honda-PBA Philippine Cup, Wednesday night at the Don Honorio Ventura State University Gym in Bacolor, Pampanga.
The versatile guard attacked the defense of Rome Dela Rosa and finished with a left-handed lay-up, and the Bolts erupted in jubilation as it completed their miraculous comeback from 13 points down inside the final two minutes.
It was also the six-year pro who placed his side in a position to come out triumphant as he hit a three-pointer prior to make it a one-point game, which he made after his teammates forced a turnover off their pressure defense.
Newsome finished with 14 points, four assists, and two rebounds as the Orangemen collected their third win in a row to improve to 5-1 and rise to the second spot of the team standings behind the 4-0 TNT.
“Let’s face it. That was a huge shot by Chris Newsome, when he drove to the basket to win the game. So he’s normally our closer, and he just made another game-winning shot for us,” said head coach Norman Black.
Meralco appeared to be on the brink of losing as it stared on an 80-93 deficit following Ian Sangalang’s freebies with exactly two minutes left to play.
But it did not just bow, and instead buckled down to work on both ends of the floor. Mac Belo ignited the rally with a trey, and he went on to power a 13-1 run that closed the gap to just a solitary point, 93-94, with 28.2 ticks left.
The opposition actually had a chance to strike the dagger, but Mark Barroca’s corner trifecta did not count as the referees called a shot clock violation. And that paved the way for Newsome’s heroic deed.
“It was a big win because we seemed to be a little bit dead on the water tonight,” offered Black. “We weren’t moving well, we weren’t jumping well, we weren’t shooting the ball well.
“Somehow we just hung in there, hung in there, kept paying defense. The defense held up for us in the fourth quarter. The guys started to make their shots.”
Belo top-scored for the Bolts with 22 points, together with six rebounds. Cliff Hodge churned out a double-double of 18 points and 11 rebounds, as veteran forward Reynel Hugnatan added 11 markers.
“I didn’t really know how we would play tonight, but at the same time, I’m really happy for the guys. They never gave up,” Black lauded.
This marked the second straight win of Meralco over the Hotshots. Back in the Philippine Cup bubble last year in Clark, the Bolts stunned the perennial all-Filipino contenders through a 109-14 overtime decision.
Paul Lee led Magnolia with 21 points, three rebounds, and three assists in the defeat that dropped his side to 4-1.
Calvin Abueva, who committed a mishap late in the game with an inadvertent basket interference on Sangalang’s shot that could’ve pushed their lead to 12, had 18 points and 14 rebounds in a foul-plagued outing.
Guard Jio Jalalon had 12 points, while Sangalang supplied 10 markers and eigjt caroms for the Hotshots, who fell to third in the standings/
Both squads plunge back into action on Friday, September 3. TNT takes on the Tropang Giga at 6:00 p.m., while Magnolia battles the winless Blackwater (0-5) at 12:30 p.m. in the triple-header opener.
The Scores:
Meralco 95 – Belo 22, Hodge 18, Hugnatan 15, Newsome 14, Maliksi 11, Black 6, Almazan 4, Pasaol 3, Quinto 2, Pinto 0, Jackson 0.
Magnolia 94 – Lee 21, Abueva 18, Jalalon 12, Sangalang 10, Barroca 8, Dela Rosa 8, Corpuz 8, Ahanmisi 5, Reavis 2, Dionisio 2, Melton 0, Pascual 0.
Quarterscores: 17-22, 39-50, 66-71, 95-94.
