MERALCO drew crucial baskets from Chris Newsome as the Bolts got back to their winning ways after beating struggling Blackwater, 89-85, on Wednesday in the PBA Philippine Cup at the Angeles University Foundation Sports Arena and Cultural Center.
Newsome finished with a game-high 19 points as the Bolts improved their record to 4-3 after suffering a defeat at the hands of San Miguel last week.
Reynel Hugnatan, who celebrated his 42nd birthday on Tuesday, and Bong Quinto had 14 points each as the Bolts handed the Elite their fourth straight loss including defeats on back-to-back days in the resumption of the games inside the Smart Giga Clark City bubble.
Tension, however, marred the final seconds of the match when Raymar Jose and KG Canaleta were seen swinging forearms against each other. Both players were ejected during the 5.9-second mark of the game.
Meralco, though, is now closing in on a quarterfinal berth, something the Bolts haven’t done in the Philippine Cup for the past few years.
“Our goal today was to put ourselves in a position to make the playoffs,” said Meralco coach Norman Black. “That’s what we are trying to accomplish. We looked it up and I don’t think we’ve made the playoffs for the last four or five years in the all-Filipino conference. We set our goal to win the game today.”
With Blackwater threatening, Newsome took over in the fourth, scoring on a fadeaway shot and a three-point play that increased Meralco’s lead to 83-75 with 2:15 left in the ballgame. The baskets proved to be vital as the Elite were unable to close the gap further.
The Bolts actually had a strong start, taking a 16-4 lead in the contest, with the lead reaching as high as 13, 36-23, thanks to baskets by Hugnatan and Quinto.
Don Trollano scored 16 points, and tried to put Blackwater on his shoulders. Trollano scored a lay-up to cut the deficit to three, 78-75, but that was the Elite’s last stand in the game.
Cliff Hodge chalked up 11 points, and Allein Maliksi tallied 10 markers for Meralco, which will play Rain or Shine on Thursday.
“It wasn’t a pretty game. We had too many turnovers, a lot of mistakes down the stretch, but we did enough to win the basketball game and that’s what’s important right now,” said Black.
Roi Sumang had 15 points for Blackwater, but the loss also spoiled the play of rookie Richard Escoto, who had 13 points.
The scores:
Meralco 89 – Newsome 19, Quinto 14, Hugnatan 14, Hodge 11, Maliksi 10, Almazan 7, Black 4, Salva 4, Amer 4, Jamito 2, Jackson 0, Jose 0, Pinto 0.
Blackwater 85 – Trollano 16, Sumang 15, Escoto 13, Tolomia 10, Canaleta 8, Daquioag 6, Golla 5, Belo 4, Magat 4, Dennison 4, Salem 0, Gabriel 0.
Quarters: 25-15; 44-36; 66-59; 89-85.
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