Champion resolve: Meralco ends skid with comeback win vs NorthPort

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Bong Quinto delivers the go-ahead bucket to preserve the fourth-quarter efforts of Chris Newsome and Chris Banchero as defending PBA Philippine Cup champion Meralco avoids a fourth straight defeat

MANILA, Philippines – On the verge of a fourth straight defeat, Meralco showed the resolve of a champion.

The reigning PBA Philippine Cup kings battled back from a five-point deficit inside the final 30 seconds and eked out a nail-biting 105-104 win over NorthPort at the PhilSports Arena on Friday, May 9.

Bong Quinto delivered the go-ahead bucket with 2.7 seconds left to preserve the fourth-quarter efforts of Chris Newsome and Chris Banchero as the Bolts snapped a three-game skid and hiked their record to an even 3-3.

“Excellent fight from our guys. We’ve been getting beaten black and blue,” said Meralco head coach Luigi Trillo. “Sometimes when things are not going your way, you have to gut it out.” 

“You’ll never know until the game is over.” 

The win appeared already in the bag for the Batang Pier after they grabbed a 104-99 lead off a pair of Jio Jalalon foul shots with 23 seconds remaining.

But NorthPort shot itself in the foot as it fired blanks from free throw line in the ensuing plays, with Jalalon and Sidney Onwubere going a combined 0/4 at the stripe as the Bolts closed it out on a 6-0 run. 

Newsome paced Meralco with 24 points and 3 steals, dropping 8 points in the final period, including the two foul shots that pulled the Bolts within 103-104 before Quinto sank the game-winner.

Banchero, meanwhile, scattered 12 of his 23 points in the fourth quarter.

Quinto fell short of a double-double with 17 points and 9 rebounds, Cliff Hodge produced 18 points, 14 rebounds, and 5 assists before fouling out with a minute left, while Aaron Black chimed in 14 points.

The loss put to waste a fiery performance from Joshua Munzon, who fired a career-high 36 points on 14-of-24 shooting to go with 6 rebounds and 3 assists. 

Munzon poured 13 points in the final frame but went scoreless in the last three minutes. 

William Navarro added 14 points and 12 rebounds for the Batang Pier, who sustained their fourth straight loss for 1-4 record as they remained without injured star Arvin Tolentino (hip).

The Scores

Meralco 105 – Newsome 24, Banchero 23, Hodge 18, Quinto 17, Black 14, Cansino 3, Bates 2, Jose 2, Almazan 0, Pasaol 0, Caram 0, Torres 0.

NorthPort 104 – Munzon 36, Navarro 14, Jalalon 11, Kwekuteye 10, Flores 10, Nelle 7, Onwubere 7, Cuntapay 6, Bulanadi 3, Nava 0, Taha 0.

Quarters: 21-30, 42-54, 74-81, 105-104.

– Rappler.com