Manila: Meralco leaned on the heroics of Chris Banchero and Chris Newsome -- and a costly error by Blackwater in the dying seconds -- to survive the Bossing, 116-114, in the PBA Season 50 Governors' Cup at Ynares Center in Antipolo on Tuesday.

According to Philippines News Agency, Meralco seemed to have the game under control after entering the fourth period with a 98-91 lead. It even stretched the difference to 110-92, still 7:35 to go. But Blackwater staged a comeback and tied at 114-all. It even got the chance to take the upper hand inside the final 35 seconds.

However, Sedrick Barefield and Kentrell Barkley missed their tries, and Banchero snagged the rebound that led to a Newsome layup for a 116-114 Meralco lead, only 3.9 ticks left. Blackwater's hope of at least equalizing vanished when RK Ilagan dribbled off his foot, with the ball going to the backcourt just before the final buzzer sounded.

'You have to give Blackwater credit,' Meralco coach Luigi Trillo said after his team notched a second straight win to catch Blackwater at 2-1 in Group B. 'I think we were up in the third quarter by 17 points. They have no quit and that's a testament to what coach Pat's (Aquino) been doing there. They're playing really good. Good na lang (It's good) that we were able to shoot that last shot on that pass to New (Newsome).'

Despite scoring only a point in the entire second half, Antonio Hester still led Meralco with 25 points on top of 12 rebounds. Newsome and Banchero added 16 apiece. Barefield's 29 points paced Blackwater while Barkley had his own double-double with 28 points and 10 boards. Ilagan chipped in 20 points and Dalph Panopio 11 to help Barefield and Barkley fuel a fightback that knotted the count for only the third and last time.