By ADRIAN STEWART CO

Chris Newsome converted a game-winning jumper with a second left as the Meralco Bolts pulled off an 80-78 Game 6 win over the San Miguel Beermen and captured the 2024 PBA Philippine Cup crown at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Sunday night, June 16.

With both teams knotted at 78-apiece after a fadeaway three-pointer from Beermen center June Mar Fajardo, Newsome surged the Bolts on top at 80-78, as he knocked down a tough basket over the defense of Beermen’s Celedonio Trollano.

The Beermen still had a chance to turn things around, but Fajardo was forced to make a tough three-point attempt from the top of the key by the double-teaming defense of the Bolts at the buzzer.

Newsome, who struggled with his points in the first half, led the way with 15 points to go with five rebounds, four assists and two steals as the Bolts finished off the Beermen in the series, 4-2.

Allein Maliksi added 14 markers, Kier John Quinto and Chris Banchero contributed 11 and 10 points, respectively, for Meralco, which claimed their first PBA title since entering the league 14 years ago.

Banchero set the tone for the Bolts with eight early points for a 9-4 start before Norbert Torres and Ilonggo Anjo Caram made their contributions with two triples each for a 29-18 advantage.

Meralco went on with their run in the second quarter as the lead grew to as high as 17 points at 46-29 on two free throws by Maliksi, but Beermen went on a late run to cut the deficit to 40-47 at the half.

The Beermen continued their uprising in the third canto as they tied the score at 49-all, but conversions from Newsome, Quinto and Clifford Hodge allowed the Beermen to establish a 63-58 lead.

Meralco opened the fourth quarter with an 8-0 blast behind Newsome, Maliksi and Raymond Almazan for a 71-58 lead, but Beermen countered with a run to cut the deficit to 71-75 on a Simon Enciso three-pointer.

The Bolts answered with a perimeter basket from Newsome for a 77-71 lead with more than a minute left, but the Beermen responded with baskets from Fajardo to tie the score at 78-all.

Fajardo finished with a double-double of 21 points and 12 rebounds, Jaymar Perez added 14 markers, while Marcio Lassiter and Moala Tautuaa had 11 and 10 points, respectively, for the dethroned champion Beermen./ASC, WDJ

MERALCO 80 — Newsome 15, Maliksi 14, Quinto 11, Banchero 10, Almazan 9, Torres 6, Caram 6, Hodge 6, Bates 3, Rios 0.

SAN MIGUEL 78 — Fajardo 21, Perez 14, Lassiter 11, Tautuaa 10, Romeo 9, Trollano 7, Enciso 5, Ross 1, Cruz 0, Teng 0, Brondial 0.

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