Meralco Bolts dethroned the San Miguel Beer as the kings of the PBA Philippine Cup.
The Bolts earned their first PBA title after besting the Beermen, 80-78, in Game Six of the best-of-seven series on Sunday, June 16, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Cubao, Quezon City.
Chris Newsome, who received the Finals Most Valuable Player award, scored 15 points including the dagger that secured the victory of Meralco.
Allein Maliksi also tallied 14 points, and Bong Quinto added 11 points for the Bolts to fend off the second-half rally of the Beermen.
Meralco went up 17 points at most, 46-29, but San Miguel managed to catch up and close the gap, 47-40, at the end of the first half.
Back-to-back free throws by seven-time PBA Most Valuable Player June Mar Fajardo allowed the Beermen to tie the score, 49-all, but a basket by Malikis allowed the Bolts to regain the lead.
At the start of the final period, the Bolts kept the Beermen scoreless for more than two minutes in order to regain a double-digit lead, 71-58.
However, the Beermen, who has won 29 titles in the PBA, proved their tenacity and closed the gap once more, 77-73, with 37 seconds left in the clock.
With three seconds left, Fajardo buried a three-point basket to tie the game, 78-all, but Newsome delivered the game-winner and claimed the victory for the Bolts.
Fajardo finished with 21 points and 12 rebounds while CJ Perez registered 14 points for San Miguel.
