Chris Newsome drained the game-winning jumper with just 0.8 second left to save defending champion Meralco from the jaws of defeat, 91-89, over a very dangerous Converge in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Philippine Cup Friday night at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
The veteran guard’s heroics completed the Bolts’ amazing come-from-behind escape from an early 20-point hole for a good start in their title defense.
“We struggled a bit in that first quarter but you can see the character of the team from not just like putting our heads down,” Newsome said after finishing with 15 points, six rebounds and four assists.
“There are two things that can happen when you get into that situation: You either fall apart, break apart and do your own thing, or you can really come together and try to fix things. While there’s time on the clock, you still have hope,” added Newsome, who came back and delivered despite tweaking his left ankle early in the third frame.
Down, 89-83, with 2:21 left, Meralco strung back-to-back treys from Bong Quinto and Newsome to knot it at 89. Both teams came out empty-handed in the next couple of plays before the Bolts made a perfect stop as Cliff Hodge stole the ball intended for rookie Justine Baltazar at the post.
Newsome then milked the clock, drove hard at the top of the key and pump-faked to get defenders Alec Stockton and Schonny Winston up in the air before letting loose the go-ahead jump shot.
Stockton tried to save the FiberXers, who opened a 27-7 lead in the first quarter, but misfired on his three-point attempt as time expired.
Bong Quinto finished with 14 markers and six boards, Raymond Almazan had a double-double of 13 points and 12 rebounds while Aaron Black and Reymar Jose added 10 markers each for Meralco, who gave up 34 points in the first period but limited Converge to just 10 in the second quarter.
The FiberXers unleashed a 9-4 blast capped by a pair of charities by Kevin Racal to take a six-point advantage before the Bolts to fired back with a closing 8-0 run.
Justin Arana had 23 points, Stockton scored 17 while Baltazar posted 14 markers and 10 rebounds for Converge, which played sans injured Jordan Heading (back).
Winston added 13 points in a losing effort.
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.
CONVERGE (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.
Quarters: 22-34, 42-44, 63-66, 91-89