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Meralco's Chris Newsome celebrates after being named Finals MVP of the 2024 PBA Philippine Cup, June 16, 2024 at the Araneta Coliseum. PBA Images

Meralco's Chris Newsome celebrates after being named Finals MVP of the 2024 PBA Philippine Cup, June 16, 2024 at the Araneta Coliseum

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2024 PBA Philippine Cup

Romwel Anzures

ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img alt="2024 PBA Philippine Cup Champions Meralco Bolts. Photo from PBA Images." src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1718553737560IMG_4219.jpeg" class="fr-fil fr-dib"/><figcaption>2024 PBA Philippine Cup Champions Meralco Bolts. <em>Photo from PBA Images.</em></figcaption></figure></div><p>MANILA — The Meralco Bolts have successfully clinched their first championship in the PBA.</p><p>The Nenad Vucinic and Luigi Trillo-mentored team took down the San Miguel Beermen in Game 6 of the 2024 PBA Philippine Cup Finals to tally their first title in the league, and heading Bolts charge was mainstay Chris Newsome.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/2024/6/16/meralco-makes-history-clinches-first-franchise-championship-at-smbs-expense-2028">READ: Meralco makes history, clinches first franchise championship at San Miguel&#x27;s expense</a></div><p>The fourth overall pick of the 2015 Rookie finished with 15 points, five rebounds, four assists, two steals, and a block, but what proved to be the most vital was his championship-winning jumper in the dying seconds of the game.</p><p>&quot;It&#x27;s nice to finally get that breakthrough championship for Meralco. We didn&#x27;t think that we were gonna get this one. We didn&#x27;t even think that we&#x27;re gonna get into the playoffs, but here we are,&quot; the Finals MVP said before he exited the Araneta Coliseum on Sunday, while still soaking wet with champagne. </p><div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img alt="2024 PBA Philippine Cup Finals MVP Chris Newsome. Photo from PBA Images." src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1718553797320IMG_4218.jpeg" class="fr-fil fr-dib"/><figcaption>2024 PBA Philippine Cup Finals MVP Chris Newsome. <em>Photo from PBA Images</em></figcaption></figure></div><p>The former Ateneo Blue Eagle hit the go-ahead basket with only 1.3 ticks remaining in the contest, and saying that it was a huge shot is an understatement especially that what preceded it was a rare game-tying triple by June Mar Fajardo. </p><p>&quot;To me, it was just to get a good look. I didn&#x27;t know if I was gonna make it or miss it, I was just trying to get a good look to give us a chance at winning,&quot; he explained. </p><p>&quot;I worked on that shot all the time, and it finally went in at the right time. I&#x27;m blessed that it happened today and during this moment. It&#x27;s really nice especially because I put the work into that [shot]. A lot of guys will tell you, I work on those shots every single day. None of them are really surprised that it went in because I put the hours in it and I put the reps in.&quot;</p><p>&quot;A lot of guys may say that it&#x27;s &#x27;tsamba,&#x27; but at the same time, that&#x27;s something that I&#x27;ve worked on every day. Of course, it could&#x27;ve been the opposite, but the story behind it is just to have courage,&quot; he continued. </p><p>Much can be said about Newsome and Meralco&#x27;s journey before clinching the title.</p><p>Before the playoffs, the Bolts at one point saw themselves on the brink of elimination and were even at the bottom of the team standings.</p><p>They then lost Aaron Black due to an ACL tear, and they also had to face the erstwhile unbeaten San Miguel in their last game of the elims just to avoid complications in entering the playoffs. </p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/2024/4/30/pba-aaron-black-vows-to-be-stronger-after-acl-tear-1922">READ: Aaron Black vows to ‘be stronger&#x27; after ACL tear</a></div><p>Meralco entered the quarterfinals as the No. 3 seed and swept the NLEX Road Warriors to advance to the semifinals, but what was awaiting them in the Final Four was a foe that was too familiar with them — Barangay Ginebra San Miguel. </p><p>&quot;I didn&#x27;t know that it was gonna happen like this. Of course, we prepared for that series against Ginebra, and at that time, our goal was just to try to overcome that,&quot; revealed Newsome of their seven-game series victory over their modern-day rivals. </p><p>&quot;When we did that, I think that allowed us to gain the confidence to get a good run. We peaked at the right time. Our staff, coaches, and utilities all had us ready to go, except for AB [Black], but that&#x27;s a testament to our organization, we do things the right way.&quot;</p><p>&quot;I&#x27;ve learned from all my failures. I&#x27;ve failed against Ginebra many times in the Finals, but it was those failures that allowed me to push and elevate my game,&quot; he added, while also explaining how he applied this mindset when Fajardo hit the triple before his eventual game-winner. </p><p>&quot;It&#x27;s about staying in the present. You can&#x27;t let things that happened in the past penetrate your mind and allow them to affect you because there is still time on the clock. When I hit that shot, there&#x27;s still time so there&#x27;s no time to celebrate.&quot;</p><div> </div><div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img alt="2024 PBA Philippine Cup Finals MVP Chris Newsome. Photo from PBA Images." src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1718553849361IMG_4214.jpeg" class="fr-fil fr-dib"/><figcaption>2024 PBA Philippine Cup Finals MVP Chris Newsome. <em>Photo from PBA Images</em></figcaption></figure></div><p>But now that he can finally call himself champion — a Finals MVP, even — Newsome said that he is just grateful for the trust that Meralco and the franchise have given him ever since.</p><p>&quot;It sounds great,&quot; he answered when asked about being the first ever Bolt to have won the MVP in the championship stage. </p><p>&quot;I was able to stick it out with Meralco, the team that drafted me. They believed in me since Day 1. Coach Norman [Black] believed in me since Day 1, but again, I&#x27;ve dedicated my time, my heart, and my soul to this organization, and I finally fulfilled that promise of bringing Meralco their first PBA championship.&quot;</p><p>Despite the title, however, Newsome bared that he remains hungry and that he will now be doing what his former veterans did for him in his earlier years in the league.</p><p>&quot;We definitely got to give shoutouts to my veterans as well. Jimmy Alapag, Jared Dillinger, Rey Hugnatan. They set an example for all the Meralco people,&quot; he said.</p><p>&quot;Even with this win, there&#x27;s more that I can improve on. Now that we have championship experience, we&#x27;ll use it to keep building the program,&quot; he said.</p><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO:</strong> <ivs-player data-ivs-key="e8c22c015ca9eafa76f1e3edfa03c603" data-ivs-spid="3001339" data-ivs-vid="3057357"></ivs-player></div><script src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/js/loader.js"></script>

<p>The Meralco Bolts have successfully clinched their first championship in the PBA.</p>

The Meralco Bolts have successfully clinched their first championship in the PBA.

Championship and Finals MVP a fulfillment of Chris Newsome’s promise to Meralco

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Championship and Finals MVP a fulfillment of Chris Newsome’s promise to Meralco

Romwel Anzures,

ABS-CBN News

Published June 17, 2024 01:23 AM PHT

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basketball

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Chris Newsome

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