Meralco led by as many as 17 points early on but had to endure some tense moments after June Mar Fajardo nailed a step-back triple to suddenly tie the game 78-all with 3.3 seconds left.

Then came Chris Newsome.

One of the key players left with the Bolts during their first four Finals heartbreaks, Newsome made sure to write a different ending this time, drilling a tough baseline jumper with 1.3 seconds left to deliver the franchise’s first-ever PBA title with a nail-biting 80-78 victory over San Miguel in Game 6 in the 2024 Philippine Cup on Sunday, June 16.

Newsome struggled heavily in the first half after missing all of his first seven attempts but made it count when it mattered the most, dropping 13 of his 15 points in the last two quarters – none bigger than the game-winning jumper over the outstretched arms of Don Trollano in the waning seconds.

The Bolts basked in the glory after finally winning the title since the franchise joined the league in 2010 – much to the delight of the sea of fans in bright orange shirts in the huge Father’s day crowd inside the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

SMB still had the chance to send the game to a winner-take-all Game 7 in the final possession but Meralco, banking on the very same reason that made the Cinderella run possible – its defense – clamped down on the Beermen shooters.

The ball went back to the hands of Fajardo but unlike his triple in the previous possession, he back-ironed the shot as the time expired, marking the end of SMB’s reign in the Philippine Cup.

Newsome, after a stellar series, was adjudged as the Finals MVP after averaging 22.5 points, 5.3 rebounds and 4.5 assists.

He was backstopped by Allein Maliksi who finished with 14 points while Chris Banchero added 11 points, eight rebounds and eight assists. Bong Quinto chipped in 11 points for the Bolts who came out firing in the first half and took a 41-29.

SMB, though, refused to waive the white flag and came back roaring and tied the game the first time at 49-all. Hardly rattled were the Bolts and kept the Beermen at bay, even reestablishing a 73-61 lead midway through the fourth.

Led by Fajardo and CJ Perez, SMB went for one more desperate push in the waning minutes with the former capping the run with an unexpected triple off what seemed to be an already broken inbound play.

That, however, only set up the heroics for Newsome whose final play surely etched his name as one of the most clutch players in PBA Finals history.

Fajardo paced the Beermen with 21 points and 12 rebounds in his first ever PBA Finals loss while Perez and Marcio Lassiter chipped in 14 and 11, respectively.

The Scores:

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

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

QUARTERS: 29-18, 47-40, 63-58, 80-78