Meralco shoots lights out vs. San Miguel for first-ever PBA title

The Cinderella story got its perfect ending. 

Chris Newsome came up with the most clutch basket to steer Meralco to a pulsating 80-78 win against San Miguel as the Bolts ended years of futility to reign supreme in the 2024 PBA Philippine Cup on Sunday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Newsome, who only shot three of his 16 attempts form the field, didn't think twice to bury the jumper over the defense of Don Trollano, giving Meralco a two-point lead with one second left in the clock. 

They had to hold their breaths, though, as June Mar Fajardo shot the desperate three-pointer that would have given the Beermen the victory, but the reigning MVP missed out on it. 

The Bolts had all the reason to as it was actually Fajardo's Hail Mary triple over Newsome in the final three seconds that allowed the Beermen to force a 78-all deadlock after trailing by as much as 17 points.

Luckily, Fajardo's second triple attempt didn't go through and the Bolts clinched their first title that proved elusive in four tries in as many finals appearances in the past, all of which saw them falling to rival Barangay Ginebra. 

Newsome tallied 15 points, five rebounds, four assists, two steals, and a block en route to bagging the Finals Most Valuable Player plum. Providing the lift were Allein Maliksi and Bong Quinto, who chipped in 14 and 11 markers to step up for their four troubled frontcourt. 

Brandon Bates and Cliff Hodge committed five fouls while Raymond Alamazan had four, but they survived the game and limited Fajardo to just 21 points on top of 12 rebounds, five assists, and one block. 

Scores:

Meralco 80 – Newsome 15, Maliksi 14, Quinto 11, Bancheor 10, Almazan 9, Caram 6, Torres 6, Hodge 6, Bates 3, Rios 0.

San Miguel 78 – Fajardo 21, Perez 14, Lassiter 11, Tautuaa 10, Romeo 9, Trollano 7, Ross 1, Enciso 0, Teng 0, Cruz 0, Brondial 0.

Quarters: 29-18, 47-40, 63-58, 80-78.

—JKC, GMA Integrated News