SMART CLARK GIGA CITY--Meralco regained its winning form after beating Blackwater, 89-85, behind another stellar game from Chris Newsome in the PBA Philippine Cup on Tuesday at the Angeles University Foundation Sports Arena.
Newsome fired five of his 19 points in the closing three minutes as the Bolts bounced back from an 82-89 loss to defending champion San Miguel last week.
Veteran forward Reynel Hugnatan and Bong Quinto added 14 points apiece while Cliff Hodge chipped in 11 markers for the Norman Black-coached squad, which improved to 4-3 and stayed within the top eight.
"Our goal today was basically to put ourselves in a position to make the playoffs," said Black, whose wards survived the close game where they committed 26 turnovers.
"It was not a pretty game. We had too many turnovers and made a lot of mistakes down the stretch but we did win and that is what's important right now," he added.
Meralco squandered an early 13-point lead as Blackwater inched within 73-75 on Mac Belo's layup with 4:34 left in the game.
Newsome sank a jumper and completed a three-point play to push the Bolts ahead for good, 83-75, with 2:15 remaining.
A late commotion saw Meralco's Raymar Jose and Blackwater's KG Canaleta get tossed out with flagrant foul penalty two.
Don Trollano and Roi Sumang had 16 and 15 points, respectively, for the Elite who suffered their fourth consecutive defeat and slid to 2-5.
Nash Racela's team narrowly lost to San Miguel in overtime, 90-88, in the very first PBA morning game on Tuesday.
The scores:
MERALCO 89 -- Newsome 19, Quinto 14, Hugnatan 14, Hodge 11, Maliksi 10, Almazan 7, Black 4, Salva 4, Amer 4, Jamito 2, Jackson 0, Jose 0, Pinto 0.
BLACKWATER 85 -- Trollano 15, Sumang 15, Escoto 13, Tolomia 10, Canaleta 8, Daquioag 6, Golla 5, Belo 4, Magat 4, Dennison 4, Salem 0, Gabriel 0.
Quarters: 25-15, 44-36, 66-59, 89-85