Newsome erupts for 28 points, powers Meralco over NLEX

MANILA, Philippines – High-flying Fil-Am forward Chris Newsome, the 2015-16 Rookie of the Year, is off to a swashbuckling start in his sophomore season in the local pro league.

Newsome exploded for 28 points that went with 10 rebounds, five assists and two steals, giving Meralco a tremendous lift in a 91-84 triumph over NLEX in the PBA Philippine Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum Saturday night.

After an 11-point and nine-rebound performance in their losing season debut against Blackwater, the former Ateneo star raised his game notches higher and led the Bolts to a blazing finish en route to a first win since their losing stand in an epic final duel with the Barangay Ginebra Kings in the last Governors Cup.

They foiled the Road Warriors' bid for a 2-0 season start as they unleashed a decisive 24-5 roll from a 79-82 count.

Newsome, who himself had a big hand in their lethal endgame attack, and coach Norman Black said it's all about matching NLEX's tremendous energy.

"We knew they're going to play with a lot of energy. The last time we played them, we got a big lead only to blow it. So we knew we've got to play hard," said Newsome.

"It's very important to match NLEX's energy. They're basically a pick and roll team like Rain or Shine. It's good that our pick and roll defense was pretty good today. We slowed them down a little bit," said Black.

With Jimmy Alapag now confined on the bench as member of Black's staff, Newsome found a deadly partner in rookie Ed Daquiaog versus coach Yeng Guiao and his new team.

Daquiaog, a Gilas recruit from Santo Tomas, scored 23 points, including 2-of-2 shooting from the arc in their fourth-quarter rampage. He had only six markers in his pro debut against Blackwater.

"Hats off to my rookie who was exceptional tonight. He was very relaxed and he played like a veteran," said Black.

Cliff Hodge, Anjo Caram and Kelly Nabong contributed double-digit outputs for the Bolts who figured in a toe-to-toe battle with the Road Warriors through the first 40 minutes of the game before coming away with their back-breaking 24-5 attack.

As Daquiaog nailed his second trey to cap the run, the Bolts opened a 103-87 margin entering the final minute of the game.

"I'm happy to get that first win in the all-Filipino today. Next up is TNT which means it doesn't get any easier," said Black.

"We want to continue our conference making sure what happened last year won't happen again," added Black whose team was 12th and dead last in this tourney last year.

Sean Anthony came up with 15 points and eight rebound to pace the losing team that played minus Rico Villanueva who sustained an injury in their previous outing.