By REYNALD MAGALLON
In a game that is ought to test its grit, guts and poise following a heartbreaking Game 2 loss, Meralco rose to the occasion and proved that it is ready to fully embrace the moment under the brightest lights of the PBA Philippine Cup Finals.
Chris Newsome took charge down the stretch and powered the Bolts to a 93-89 victory over the San Miguel Beermen in Game 3 of the best-of-seven series at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Sunday, June 9.
With the ghost of Game 2 loss haunting Meralco in the endgame after the Beermen took the lead, 89-88, Newsome drilled a booming triple from the right corner to give the lead back to the Bolts before icing the game with a pair of pressure-packed free throws.
Meralco regained a 2-1 series lead and has the chance to bury San Miguel to a 3-1 hole in Game 4 on Wednesday, June 12, at the same venue.
Limited to just six points in the first two quarters, Newsome came alive in the second half to drop 26 points and lead another balanced attack from the Bolts.
Raymond Almazan, who was in foul trouble in Game 2, and Bong Quinto, who had the defensive lapse in Marcio Lassiter’s game-winner last game, both stepped up and provided ample support to Newsome.
Almazan had a big double-double of 17 points and 13 rebounds while Quinto fired 16. Cliff Hodge finished with 10 points and 13 rebounds while Chris Banchero orchestrated the attack with 10 points, six rebounds and six assists.
More than the offensive production though, Meralco’s defense was rock solid in Game 3 particularly on SMB main man June Mar Fajardo who the Bolts only allowed to take five attempts from the field while forcing him to a game-high seven turnovers.
Fajardo along with CJ Perez were also saddled by foul trouble, picking up three apiece in the first half – which was key in limiting an offensive juggernaut like the Beermen to below 90 points for the second time in the Finals series.
Meralco also adjusted well to SMB’s bench mob that kept the team afloat in the first two quarters. With Mo Tautuaa, Jeron Teng and Jericho Cruz leading the way, the Beermen had 34 points off the bench in the first half but was limited to just 13 the rest of the way.
Tautuaa stepped up with 19 points to lead SMB while Perez picked up the slack finishing with 18 points – 15 of which came in the second half. Fajardo remained a force underneath with 12 points and 15 rebounds while Marcio Lassiter also chipped in 12.
It was a nip-and-tuck affair in the final frame when Quinto nailed a booming triple that gave Meralco a four-point cushion, 88-84. Fajardo and Perez combined for the next five points for SMB to grab the lead.
That only set up the stage for Newsome heroics before Meralco’s defense held on and dodged three huge bullets in SMB’s final play.
