The Meralco Bolts are headed to the semifinals of the PBA Season 50 Philippine Cup after pulling away for a 98-89 triumph against the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters on Monday, December 29, at the Araneta Coliseum.

Chris Newsome took charge for the Bolts down the stretch, making the big plays en route to 31 points, five assists, three rebounds, two blocks, and a steal.

The win completed Meralco’s upset of the Elasto Painters in the quarterfinals, as Rain or Shine had been armed with a twice-to-beat advantage after finishing as the No. 2 seed at the end of the elimination round.

But they absorbed a 96-79 defeat that allowed seventh-seeded Meralco to force a do-or-die game, and the Bolts made sure not to waste the opportunity that they earned.

With the loss, the Elasto Painters bid goodbye to a pillar of their franchise, Gabe Norwood, who earlier said he would retire at the end of the Philippine Cup.

Meralco arranged a best-of-7 series against the TNT Tropang 5G in the semis.

Newsome took charge, anchoring a 12-5 exchange capped by a clutch midrange jumper with just 1:13 left for a 90-82 Meralco lead. Adrian Nocum knocked down a triple on the E-Painters’ next possession to give them some hope, 90-85, and Chris Banchero muffed a layup for the Bolts in the following sequence. Newsome wound up scoring 18 of his 31 points in the final quarter, where he went a perfect 12-of-12 from the free throw line.

Banchero added 21 points for the Bolts, who also got 14 from CJ Cansino and 11 from Bong Quinto.

It was a disappointing finish to the conference for the Elasto Painters, who erased a double-digit deficit and went blow for blow with Rain or Shine behind Nocum and Gian Mamuyac. (ABS-CBN News)