Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) — Meralco Bolts wrapped up the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Philippine Cup with a lone victory at the expense of the Star Hotshots, a dismal performance which was a far cry from the team’s impressive run in the previous season.
Now looking to prop up their sagging fortunes and shrug off the stigma that was the forgettable All-Filipino conference, the embattled Bolts opened their Commissioner’s Cup on a winning note on Wednesday (February 10) against, guess what, the Hotshots.
Rookie Chris Newsome scored 11 of his 16 points in the final stretch as Meralco fashioned out a nerve-wrecking 90-86 victory over Star at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum.
Meralco’s last-minute import, Arinze Onuaku, also made a good account of himself, scattering 25 points to go with 22 rebounds.
“He arrived just last night but I thought he showed a lot of leadership for us today. He covered a lot of our weaknesses,” said Meralco coach Norman Black of Onuaku, who replaced injured Malcolm Thomas at the last minute.
Onuaku, who arrived at 12 midnight on Tuesday, also sank the hook shot that sealed the win for the Bolts.
Despite Newsome and Onuaku’s outstanding performances, Black said the result of the contest hinged on the hard work his wards put in during the break between the first two conferences.
“I give a lot of credit to my local players who have worked hard this season to try to erase what happened last conference,” he said.
Returning import Denzel Bowles was in his usual deadly form, scoring 20 points while collaring 15 rebounds for the Hotshots.
The former best import also got plenty of help from Mark Barroca (11 points, nine rebounds, nine assists) and PJ Simon (12 points) but their efforts were just not enough to fan the flames in the final moments of the tussle where Meralco pulled away.
