By REYNALD MAGALLON
The Japanese Kings were struck by a powerful lightning in the clutch by the name of Chris Newsome.
Meralco delivered the first win for the Philippine representatives in the East Super League after a pulsating 97-88 overtime victory over Ryukyu at the Studio Event Center in Macau on Wednesday, Dec. 13.
Lightning struck twice the Golden Kings in crunchtime as Newsome delivered back-to-back jumpers that gave the Bolts enough separation in the overtime period and put the game away for their first win through three games.
It was also Newsome’s heroics that also sent the game to an extra period when he converted a gutsy four-point play to tie the game with 80-all with 10-seconds left in regulation.
Ryukyu had the last say in the fourth quarter but Vic Law missed the potential game-winner at the buzzer.
Newsome finished with 27 points, none bigger than his last four points that handed the Bolts a 92-83 lead in overtime. He shot 8-of-9 from the field and added eight rebounds and two assists.
Import Zach Lofton, fresh off a 54-point explosion in the PBA, also had his share of big hits in the fourth quarter and overtime to finish with 35 points, although he also needed 35 shots to reach the output.
Meralco’s other import Prince Ibeh added a double-double of 15 points and 12 rebounds.
Playing without Allen Durham and Filipino import Carl Tamayo, Law led the attack for Ryukyu with 27 points, nine rebounds and six assists. Keita Imamura added 19 built on five treys but not enough to prevent the Golden Kings from falling to a 2-2 slate.
