CHRIS Newsome didn't let Meralco down and came through with clutch baskets one after the other as the Bolts got even against Ryukyu Golden Kings in overtime, 97-88, in the EASL Home and Away season on Wednesday night at the Studio City in Macau
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Newsome willed the Bolts back from the jaws of defeat by completing a rare four-point play to send the game into overtime.
He then teamed up with Cliff Hodge and imports Zach Lofton and Prince Ibeh in the extra period to put away the reigning B. League champions and power Meralco's breakthrough win in the tournament.
Lofton finished with 35 points and six rebounds, while Newsome came through for 27 points and eight rebounds for Meralco, which improved to 1-2 in Group B.
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Law finished with 27 points and nine rebounds for Ryukyu, but couldn't convert on a potential game-winner with a second to go in regulation.
The Golden Kings, who played without import Allen Durham and Filipino Carl Tamayo, fell to an even 2-2 record.
The scores
Meralco (97) – Lofton 35, Newsome 27, Ibeh 15, Hodge 6, Almazan 5, Maliksi 5, Dario 2, Banchero 2, Quinto 0, Rios 0, Bates 0, Torres 0,
Ryukyu (88) – Law 27, Imamura 19, Kishimoto 15, Cooley 10, Onodera 9, Tashiro 4, Maki 2, Watanabe 2, Uematsu 0, Arakawa 0, Matsuwaki 0.
Quarterscores: 17-21; 38-37; 57-57; 80-all (reg); 97-88
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