Chris Newsome once again saved Meralco from the jaws of defeat following a clutch outing that kept them alive in the PBA Season 48 Commissioner’s Cup.
The star guard pushed Phoenix Super LPG to extra time with a game-tying three-pointer, before helping Bong Quinto and Allein Maliksi close out the 116-107 triple-OT victory on Wednesday night.
But what gave head coach Luigi Trillo pride was more than that big shot itself. It was how his wards worked to make that possible – and to turn their fortunes around after being down by 15 twice in the fourth.
“Bigayan ng bola,” offered the champion bench tactician during the postgame press conference at the Philsports Arena in Pasig.
Trillo lauded the selflessness of his wards, particularly Aaron Black, who did not forcibly attack the defense as he waited for Newsome to hand it off.
The same willingness to defer to one another enabled Bong Quinto to play a crucial role in the extra periods, where he scored 14 of his 19.
(C) PBA Images
“That shot would not have entered if Aaron did not give that shot. I don’t think Bong would’ve had the game he had if they didn’t trust him,” said Trillo.
“Yung nakikita ko sa game na ‘to, sa start first half medyo nagkakanya-kanya. Sa second half, I thought New had that shot but it was because AB gave him that shot. Same thing with Bong, he got his because nagbibigayan.”
Definitely, Trillo would love to see that again when they face Phoenix again on Sunday at the Mall of Asia Arena in the sudden death affair.
“Sa amin, whatever it takes,” he said. “We’ve been in this situation before, we have to keep that momentum going.”
