Tag: Game

Latvia crushes Georgia ahead of Gilas game

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Latvia’s Davis Bertans takes a 3-pointer against Georgia during the Fiba Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Riga, Latvia.–Photo from Fiba

SCHEDULE: Gilas Pilipinas at Fiba OQT in Riga, Latvia

MANILA, Philippines—Buoyed by the home crowd, Latvia got off to a dominant start in its last-chance bid to make the Paris Olympics.

The Latvians showed why they’re ranked sixth in the world by blowing out Georgia, 88-53, on opening night of the Fiba Olympic Qualifying Tournament at Arena Riga.

“We are very happy for the way we entered the tournament after long seasons for everybody,” said Latvia coach Luca Banchi, whose squad takes on Gilas Pilipinas next on Thursday, 12 a.m. (Manila time).

READ: Fiba OQT: Bahamas tops Finland, Slovenia falls to Croatia

“The guys responded very well, starting from the defensive approach, bringing energy and good rhythm. We kept a good level of intensity all throughout the game.”

Arturs Strautins had a perfect offensive game to lead Latvia with 18 points on 5-of-5 shooting from the field including four triples and 4-of-4 from the free throw line.

Mareks Mejeris and Rolands Smits also gave the Latvians a lift with their all-around effort combining for 21 points, 14 rebounds, seven assists and four steals.

NBA veteran Davis Bertans, who plays for the Charlotte Hornets, added nine points for Latvia, which finished fifth in last year’s Fiba World Cup in Manila.

READ: Latvia’s Porzingis to have surgery, out of Fiba OQT and Paris Olympics

Latvia is expected to sweep Group A despite missing the services of NBA star Kristaps Porzingis, who recently underwent leg surgery to repair a torn retinaculum and dislocated posterior tibialis tendon.

The Boston Celtics center suffered what was considered a rare injury in Game 2 of the NBA Finals last month.

Alexander Mamukelashlivi was the sole double-digit scorer for Georgia with 14 points and four rebounds.



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Celtics’ Porzingis returns to play for Game 5 vs Mavs

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Kristaps Porzingis #8 of the Boston Celtics speaks to officials during the second quarter of Game Five of the 2024 NBA Finals against the Dallas Mavericks at TD Garden on June 17, 2024 in Boston, Massachusetts. Adam Glanzman/Getty Images/AFP

BOSTON — Kristaps Porzingis returned to the floor on Monday night as the Boston Celtics attempted to close out the Dallas Mavericks in Game 5 of the NBA Finals.

Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla told reporters before the game that Porzingis would be available and said, “We expect to see him tonight.” The 7-foot-2 Latvian drew a big cheer when he got off the Boston bench to check into the game with 6:49 left in the first quarter.

He missed his first shot, a 3-point attempt.

READ: NBA Finals: Celtics aim to regroup after Mavericks avoid sweep

Mazzulla said Porzingis, who missed the previous two games because of a dislocated tendon in his left ankle, would not have a minutes restriction.

He was cleared to play a limited role in Game 4, but never took off his warmups during Boston’s 122-84 loss in Dallas.

Porzingis had been listed as questionable Monday morning before going through an on-court workout about 2 1/2 hours before tipoff.

READ: NBA Finals: Celtics offer little on Porzingis after leg injury

The workout included shooting, some light-contact post work and lateral movement drills.

The Celtics have said that his tendon issue is unrelated to the calf strain Porzingis sustained April 29 in the first round against Miami that led to him missing 10 games.

Porzingis averaged 13.5 points and 5.0 rebounds in his first six games this postseason, including 20 points, six rebounds and three blocked shots in Game 1 against Dallas.



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NBA Finals Game 5 Boston Celtics-Dallas Mavericks

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2024 NBA Finals schedule (June 18, Game 5)

8:30am – Boston Celtics at Dallas Mavericks

FULL NBA FINALS SCHEDULE HERE.

NBA Finals: Rookie leaving an impression as Mavs try to stay alive

Boston Celtics players sit on the bench during the final moments of their loss to the Dallas Mavericks in Game 4 of the NBA finals, Friday, June 14, 2024, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

Poised for an NBA coronation in Dallas, the Boston Celtics instead suffered the most lopsided Finals loss in franchise history, but with a 3-1 series lead Jaylen Brown says there’s no need to panic.

“These are the moments that can make you or break you,” Brown said after the Mavericks demolished the Celtics 122-84 in game four of the best-of-seven championship series. FULL STORY

NBA Finals: Rookie leaving an impression as Mavs try to stay alive

Dereck Lively NBA Finals Dallas Mavericks

Dallas Mavericks center Dereck Lively II (2) scores against the Boston Celtics during Game 4 of the NBA basketball finals, Friday, June 14, 2024, in Dallas. (Stacy Revere/Pool Photo via AP)

Dereck Lively II drained the first 3-pointer of his career, forced a missed layup at the other end and ping-ponged back down the court to slam home an alley-oop pass.

The Dallas Mavericks didn’t trail again in Game 4 of the NBA Finals against Boston following that first-quarter sequence from their 7-foot-1 rookie center.

And while a series loss to the Celtics with the title on the line still seems inevitable, the 20-year-old from Duke has left an impression on the global basketball stage. FULL STORY

NBA Finals: Celtics back home with chance to clinch record 18th title

Boston Celtics vs Dallas Mavericks Game 4 NBA Finals

Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) and guard Jrue Holiday react as Dallas Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving (11) and forward P.J. Washington walk off away after the Celtics won 109-66 in Game 3 of the NBA basketball finals, Wednesday, June 12, 2024, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Sam Hodde)

BOSTON — The Boston Celtics’ catastrophic performance in Game 4 of the NBA Finals gave them a chance to clinch another championship on Monday night under the 17 banners already hanging in the TD Garden rafters.

And, coach Joe Mazzulla reminded them, that they would still have two more chances after that.

“We don’t like to lose,” Celtics guard Jaylen Brown said before practice on Sunday. “I think we are ready for Game 5. I think that’s the best answer that I’ve got. I think that we’re ready. We’re at home. And we’re looking forward to it.” FULL STORY

In hostile Boston, Mavs’ Irving aims to keep focus on NBA Finals

Kyrie Irving Dallas Mavericks vs Boston Celtics NBA Finals

Kyrie Irving of the Dallas Mavericks looks to pass the ball during the third quarter against the Boston Celtics in Game Two of the 2024 NBA Finals at TD Garden on June 09, 2024 in Boston, Massachusetts.  (Getty Images via AFP)

NEW YORK – Resigned to the villain’s role in Boston, Dallas star Kyrie Irving is less concerned with silencing hostile Celtics fans than with quieting self doubt and leading the Mavs in a must-win NBA Finals game five.

“Let’s just call it what it is,” Irving said Sunday as the Mavs prepared to try once again to fend off elimination in the championship series, in which they trail the Celtics 3-1.

“When the fans are cheering ‘Kyrie sucks’ they feel like they have a psychological edge, and that’s fair,’” said Irving, who was hounded by Celtics fans still rankled by his departure in 2019 after two seasons with the team. FULL STORY



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PBA Finals Game 6 San Miguel vs Meralco

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2024 PBA Philippine Cup Finals schedule (Game 6)

Smart Araneta Coliseum

6:15pm – San Miguel Beermen vs Meralco Bolts

FULL SCHEDULE HERE.

San Miguel Beer guard CJ Perez during Game 6 of the PBA Philippine Cup Finals.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines—The hard work never stops for CJ Perez in the offseason especially after San Miguel Beer lost in the PBA Philippine Cup Finals.

Even after coming off his best PBA season yet, Perez, the Best Player of the Conference in the 2024 Commissioner’s Cup, feels the need to further improve his game and help get the Beermen back to the top.

Chris Newsome PBA Finals MVP Meralco Bolts

Meralco Bolts’ Chris Newsome celebrates after leading his team to the PBA Philippine Cup championship.-MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines—Meralco couldn’t have hoped for any other player than Chris Newsome to hold the ball in the endgame of Game 6 of the PBA Philippine Cup Finals.

Newsome showed why after he nailed the game-clinching shot to deliver the Bolts’ first-ever PBA title on Sunday night.

Chris Newsome Meralco Bolts PBA Finals

PBA Finals MVP Chris Newsome delivers Meralco’s first-ever PBA championship.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines–Chris Newsome finally entered hallowed basketball grounds on Sunday night, delivering Meralco’s first-ever PBA title at the expense of erstwhile defending champion San Miguel.

The two-way guard delivered the finishing blow of the 80-78 Game 6 victory at Smart Araneta Coliseum, capping off a stellar effort that eventually earned him the Honda-PBA Press Corps Finals Most Valuable Player.

Meralco Bolts PBA championship PBA Philippine Cup Finals

Meralco Bolts celebrate after winning their first-ever PBA title.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines–Call them the “Miracle Bolts.”

Against a battle-tested enemy so used to playing on a pressured-packed stage, the Bolts on Sunday stunned San Miguel, 80-78, to rule the PBA Philippine Cup.

Meralco Bolts in Game 5 of the PBA philippine Cup Finals against San Miguel Beermen

Meralco Bolts in Game 5 of the PBA philippine Cup Finals against San Miguel Beermen. -MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

Now that they are within a win of their first-ever PBA championship, the Meralco Bolts are determined to not let a golden opportunity slip away.

Their first chance to close the series out is on Sunday night in Game 6 of the Philippine Cup Finals at Smart Araneta Coliseum, where the franchise that endured so many title heartbreaks can make those defeats a distant memory with another victory over the favored San Miguel Beermen.

June Mar Fajardo and the San Miguel Beermen in Game 5 of the PBA Philippine Cup Finals against Meralco Bolts.

June Mar Fajardo and the San Miguel Beermen in Game 5 of the PBA Philippine Cup Finals against Meralco Bolts. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

San Miguel Beer is in a precarious, yet familiar predicament which it will try to overcome in the PBA Philippine Cup Finals when it stands up to Meralco’s first of two chances to end its long search for a championship.

Game 6 is set 6:15 p.m. on Sunday at Smart Araneta Coliseum, where the defending champion Beermen will try to solve the woes that allowed the Bolts to seize a 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven series two nights earlier.

Meralco Bolts' Allein Maliksi in during Game 5 of the PBA Philippine Cup Finals

Meralco Bolts’ Allein Maliksi in during Game 5 of the PBA Philippine Cup Finals. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

With four PBA titles under his belt, Meralco gunner Allein Maliksi knows a thing or two about winning where lights shine the brightest and stakes are at their highest.

And he proved just that on Friday night, figuring prominently in the Bolts’ 92-88 Game 5 conquest of defending champion San Miguel Beer that also put the club on the threshold of a historic first championship.



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Game 6 hero now looks at next career move

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Meralco Bolts’ Chris Newsome celebrates after leading his team to the PBA Philippine Cup championship.-MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

Chris Newsome is aware that an old trophy from Meralco’s gloried past used to be on display somewhere in the company sports complex in Ortigas where the Bolts regularly hold their practices.

He had hoped to see the 1971 MICAA Open title sitting alongside the Jun Bernardino Perpetual Trophy, which the Bolts were awarded for being the PBA Philippine Cup champion after they defeated San Miguel, 4-2, in the best-of-seven series after an 80-78 win on Sunday night where Newsome hit the winning basket at Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Newsome has done his part, finally helping the franchise to its first PBA title. And Meralco will now have to do its part with Newsome entering unrestricted free agency.

“Whenever this Finals is done, we have time to reevaluate the situation,” Newsome had told the Inquirer before the series began. “Of course, the result of this Finals could play a lot into negotiations when it comes to free agency.”

How the favorable result was arrived at will surely come into play after Newsome drained a fallaway jumper with 1.3 seconds left that saved the Bolts from an implosion that saw them blow a 17-point lead in the first half.

With Newsome being part of the 2015 Draft class that will be eligible for unrestricted free agency, Meralco effectively loses its rights on the 33-year-old swingman.

This will be the second off-season that such players have been accorded the huge privilege. It started last year when those who entered in 2014 took advantage of the rule implemented three years ago which players like Chris Banchero, Barangay Ginebra’s Nards Pinto and Maverick Ahanmisi took advantage of.

Newsome, though, has not played for any other team than Meralco, a big plus when he considers his next career move.

Banchero left Phoenix in 2022 to sign with Meralco, Pinto opted to join Barangay Ginebra after several years with Meralco while Ahanmisi switched from Converge before the start of this season. INQ



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Meralco wins first PBA title, survives San Miguel in Game 6

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Meralco Bolts celebrate after winning their first-ever PBA title.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines–Call them the “Miracle Bolts.”

Against a battle-tested enemy so used to playing on a pressured-packed stage, the Bolts on Sunday stunned San Miguel, 80-78, to rule the PBA Philippine Cup.

Chris Newsome hit a fadeaway jumper with 1.3 remaining to cap Meralco’s stand at Smart Araneta Coliseum, finishing off the much-fancied defending champions in six tightly contested games.

READ: PBA Finals: ‘Nobody remembers second place,’ says Meralco coach Trillo

Allein Maliksi was just as big in the clincher, delivering 14 points to backstop Newsome’s 15 which also helped the club to its first-ever title in Asia’s pioneering pro league.

Bong Quinto had 11 points, Chris Banchero 10, Raymond Almazan nine while Cliff Hodge, Anjo Caram, and Norbert Torres pumped in six points each.

June Mar Fajardo, earlier crowned the Best Player of the Conference, tied the game at 78-all with 3.3 ticks remaining, almost willing the Beermen back and dragging the Bolts to a deciding Game 7. He finished with 21 points and 12 rebounds.

READ: PBA Finals: Unable to stop June Mar, Meralco still finds way to win

CJ Perez tossed in 14 points, Marcio Lassiter 11, Mo Tautuaa 10. Terrence Romeo added nine, Don Trollano seven, and Simon Enciso five off the bench.

Sunday’s triumph marks the first time Meralco was at the basketball mountaintop since ruling the Manila Industrial and Commercial Athletic Association, a precursor of the PBA, in 1971.



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Celtics take season’s worth of lessons into Game 5

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Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown (7) drives against Dallas Mavericks center Dereck Lively II (2) during the first half in Game 4 of the NBA basketball finals, Friday, June 14, 2024, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Sam Hodde)

BOSTON — The Celtics picked the most inopportune time to play their worst game of the season.

Boston’s 122-84 Game 4 loss to Dallas had all kinds of superlatives, and none of them were good.

It ended the Celtics’ 10-game playoff win streak. It was the Celtics’ lowest scoring output of the season and marked the first time the Celtics have allowed the Mavericks to eclipse 100 points in the series on a stellar night for Dallas stars Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving.

READ: NBA Finals: Luka Doncic learning in first NBA Finals but not conceding to Celtics

It also reminded the Celtics that putting a championship bow on what has been one of the franchise’s most successful seasons will require the same resilience they’ve shown during a postseason in which they haven’t lost consecutive games.

“It’s a learning lesson, for sure. Got to show up and show out every night. They’re not going to roll over,” Celtics reserve Sam Hauser said. “They’re down 3-1 now. They’re desperate. … They’re not going to make it easy on us.”

As humbling as Game 4’s loss was, history will be on the Celtics’ side for Game 5.

While Friday’s loss was the seventh time that the Celtics have lost by 20 or more points in the finals, they are 5-1 in the previous six.

The game Monday also falls on the 16th anniversary of Boston clinching its last championship in 2008.

“It’s a great opportunity to respond,” said Celtics forward Jaylen Brown, who finished Game 4 with a minus-19 plus-minus – his second-worst of these playoffs and third-worst of his entire playoff career. “We just regroup. We keep our same mentality, and we come out and get ready to fight in another battle on our home floor.”

READ: NBA Finals: Mavericks crush Celtics to avoid sweep

It’s also the latest chance for coach Joe Mazzulla to reinforce the lessons he has tried to instill in his team. Hauser recalled Boston’s Game 3 win when Dallas rallied to cut a 21-point fourth quarter lead to just one with less than four minutes to play.

“The Mavs were on that big run, the start of the fourth there. He came in and said, ‘That was great. That makes us hungrier,’” Hauser said. “He didn’t even focus on the win, he focused on that, which was cool. It keeps all of us grounded and knowing that we have more work to do.”

It was the same tone Mazzulla tried to set during the regular season.

Boston opened the season by winning its first five games before losing in overtime at Minnesota. Postgame Mazzulla expressed excitement for his team experiencing an opponent challenging it to play its best basketball. Following another loss two nights later at Philadelphia, the Celtics reeled off six straight victories.

In February, the Celtics lost on their home court to a Los Angeles Lakers team without both LeBron James and Anthony Davis. Then Boston reeled off a season-high 11-game win streak.

The Celtics are now just one more bounce-back win away from seeing those instances of adversity bear championship fruit.

If they need any more consolation — each of the Celtics previous three title-winning teams in 1984, 1986 and 2008 all lost with close-out opportunities on the road and then returned to win at home.

“Close-out games are hard. Close-out games are tough,” Brown said. “They always have been like that, and you’ve got to have extreme focus. You’ve got to come out and meet their intensity to finish things out.”

Jayson Tatum is expecting the TD Garden crowd to bring the energy to match the moment.



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“I think it’s going to be as loud as it’s ever been in my seven years of being a Celtic,” he said. “Excited to go back home. Celebrate Father’s Day on Sunday and compete for a championship on Monday.”

History on the side of Meralco Bolts after Game 5 win

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Meralco Bolts’ Cliff Hodge, Allein Maliksi and Raymond Almazan during Game 5 of the PBA Philippine Cup Finals against San Miguel Beermen. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines–Meralco is on the edge of a historic first crown in the PBA.

After nipping San Miguel, 92-88, Friday night at Smart Araneta Coliseum, the Bolts are now up 3-2 in the best-of-seven championship series with a chance to finish off the defending champion this coming Sunday.

History is on the side of the Luigi Trillo and Nenad Vucenic-mentored crew as 15 of the 19 clubs in the last 12 years who won Game 5 after a 2-all deadlock went on to win the title, according to stats chief Fidel Mangonon III.

READ: PBA Finals: Meralco Bolts need to ‘play with poise’ to close out San Miguel

Mathematically, that’s a 79 percent possibility favoring the Bolts.

But standing in the way is a San Miguel squad that has a veritable chokehold of PBA titles. And the Beermen, having won 29 titles, know what it takes to pull through in a stage where stakes are at their highest.

San Miguel owns three comebacks in the Finals. The Beermen have figured in 2-3 series deficits thrice and still managed to win the title, the last being against TNT four years ago, also in the Philippine Cup.

READ: Meralco on brink of first PBA title after Game 5 win over San Miguel

The other two instances are against Magnolia during the 2019 All Filipino, and against crowd darling Barangay Ginebra in the 2009 edition of the Fiesta Cup.

Safe to say Meralco has its work cut out for itself this coming Sunday when it tries to finish off the vaunted side at the fabled Big Dome.



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NBA Finals Game 4 Celtics vs Mavericks

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2024 NBA Finals schedule (June 15, Game 4)

8:30am – Boston Celtics at Dallas Mavericks

FULL NBA FINALS SCHEDULE HERE.

NBA Finals: Celtics take nothing for granted on brink of crown

The Boston Celtics bench looks on as Dallas Mavericks forward P.J. Washington attempts a shot during the second half in Game 3 of the NBA basketball finals, Wednesday, June 12, 2024, in Dallas. The Celtics won 106-99.(AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

Jayson Tatum has known since he was drafted by the Celtics in 2017 that the measure of success in Boston is an NBA title, but he’s not chalking up championship No. 18 just yet.

“Even now, up 3-0, nobody is celebrating or anything,” Tatum said Thursday, a day after the Celtics thwarted a late Dallas rally to beat the Mavericks 106-99 and take a stranglehold on the best-of-seven NBA Finals. FULL STORY

NBA Finals: Celtics offer little on Porzingis after leg injury

Kristaps Porzingis Boston Celtics NBA Finals

Boston Celtics center Kristaps Porzingis talks with reporters before basketball practice, Tuesday, June 11, 2024, in Dallas, in preparation for Game 3 of the NBA Finals against the Dallas Mavericks. (Smiley N. Pool/The Dallas Morning News via AP)

DALLAS— Kristaps Porzingis didn’t do an encore with reporters two days after Boston’s big man answered questions in the immediate aftermath of the announcement of his rare lower left leg injury.

Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla didn’t offer much insight, either, which means Thursday’s injury report will be the closest thing to any official word on whether Porzingis’ latest ailment will keep him out of Game 4 of the NBA Finals at Dallas on Friday night. FULL STORY

Luka Doncic learning in first NBA Finals, but not conceding to Celtics

Dallas Mavericks Luka Doncic NBA Finals Celtics vs Mavericks

Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic heads to the lockers after Game 3 of the NBA basketball finals against the Boston Celtics, Wednesday, June 12, 2024, in Dallas. The Celtics won 106-99. (AP Photo/Sam Hodde)

DALLAS— Luka Doncic winced ever so slightly as he stepped onto the stage to address reporters a day after his Dallas Mavericks fell behind Boston 3-0 in the NBA Finals.

A rough first finals for the 25-year-old superstar, no doubt — an injury-filled postseason punctuated by fouling out for the first time in his playoff career, thanks to a four-foul fourth quarter in a 106-99 loss to the Celtics in Game 3. FULL STORY

‘Fun’ key to Mavs’ bid for unprecedented NBA Finals comeback–Doncic

Luka Doncic of the Dallas Mavericks reacts after fouling out in the fourth quarter against the Boston Celtics in Game Three of the 2024 NBA Finals at American Airlines Center on June 12, 2024 in Dallas, Texas.

DALLAS, TEXAS – JUNE 12: Luka Don?i? #77 of the Dallas Mavericks reacts after fouling out in the fourth quarter against the Boston Celtics in Game Three of the 2024 NBA Finals at American Airlines Center on June 12, 2024 in Dallas, Texas. Stacy Revere/Getty Images/AFP

LOS ANGELES – Dallas superstar Luka Doncic says the Mavericks must set aside the enormity of the task facing them in the NBA Finals and get back to having fun if they are to mount an unprecedented comeback against Boston.

The Slovenian fouled out with just over four minutes remaining in game three on Wednesday and could only watch from the bench as the Celtics thwarted the Mavs’ late rally for a 106-99 victory and a 3-0 lead in the best-of-seven championship series. FULL STORY



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Chris Newsome career-best down the drain with Game 4 loss

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Meralco Bolts’ Chris Newsome during Game 4 of the PBA Philippine Cup Finals against San Miguel Beermen. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

SCHEDULE: PBA Finals San Miguel vs Meralco

MANILA, Philippines—It may have been a career night for Chris Newsome, but that was the last thing on his mind after Meralco Bolts’ ‘ Game 4 loss to San Miguel in the PBA Philippine Cup Finals.

Newsome scored a career best 40 points  only for the Bolts to lose to the Beermen and have the series pushed back to square one at 2-2.

“They made their adjustments. That’s what a playoff series is all about. They definitely came with a lot more energy today and you certainly saw it,” said Newsome.

“111? That’s definitely more than we’re used to giving up so for us it’s back to the drawing board and get back to playing Meralco basketball.”

READ: PBA Finals: San Miguel gets back at Meralco to tie series at 2-2

The final count is the largest scoring output for both squads, putting Meralco’s defensive prowess to shame.

Other than 40 points, Newsome also snagged six rebounds and four assists but it still wasn’t enough to give the Bolts the commanding 3-1 lead.

Instead of celebrating his new career milestone, Newsome chose to look ahead to Game 5 where the Bolts can take the pivotal 3-2 lead.

“It’s a best-of-three now l it’s going to come down to who’s playing the best  basketball at the right time. It’’s a tough loss for us today but that’s why we got the win in the last game, to have that advantage. We’re back to square one. It’s back to square one.”

“It’s going to be a grind out for the rest of the series.”

Meralco and San Miguel go at it again on Friday to see who gets the commanding 3-2 lead.



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