Meralco turned to Chris Newsome in the final stages and the Bolts grabbed a 3-2 lead against San Miguel in their PBA Season 48 Philippine Cup best-of-seven finals series last Friday, June 14.
Undaunted despite facing multititled San Miguel, Meralco took Game 5, 92-88, to inch closer towards a maiden crown in the PBA Season 48 Philippine Cup on Friday, June 14.
Showing stability at endgame, Chris Newsome once again delivered the finishing blows as he sank a pair of free throws with just six seconds left and the Bolts found themselves holding a 3-2 edge in a best-of-seven finals series for the first time.
[ALSO READ: Spoiler Alert: Meralco deals San Miguel heartbreaks in past PBA crucial battles]
Sherwin Vardeleon shares more of Game 5 through his photos below.
[ALSO READ: PBA: Breakthrough title for Meralco or extension for San Miguel?]
![](https://1cms-img.imgix.net/game5inphotos4.jpg)
San Miguel seven-time Most Valuable Player June Mar Fajardo cannot be denied as he rewrote his season-high with 38 points.
![](https://1cms-img.imgix.net/game5inphotos5.jpg)
Meralco tries but it cannot contain June Mar Fajardo who also collars 18 rebounds for his 14th straight double-double.
![](https://1cms-img.imgix.net/15junemaliksi2.png)
Bolts gunner Allein Maliksi recovers his offensive touch after a three-game struggle.
![](https://1cms-img.imgix.net/game5inphotos6.png)
Beermen veteran Vic Manuel collides with Meralco big man Cliff Hodge's arm.
![](https://1cms-img.imgix.net/game5inphotos2.jpg)
SUPER MO. San Miguel's Mo Tautuaa is ready for the loose ball battle.
![](https://1cms-img.imgix.net/game5inphotos7.png)
CJ Perez is smothered by the Meralco quartet.
![](https://1cms-img.imgix.net/game5inphotos6.jpg)
June Mar Fajardo takes a moment on the floor after suffering a cut in the second quarter.
![](https://1cms-img.imgix.net/game5inphotos3.jpg)
CJ Perez struggles with a 4-for-16 shooting clip.
![](https://1cms-img.imgix.net/game5inphotos8.png)
Raymond Almazan produces 14-points for the Bolts to bounce back from a woeful two-point showing in Game 4.
![](https://1cms-img.imgix.net/game5inphotos12.png)
Meralco ace Chris Newsome is clutch.