Defending champion Meralco put a halt to NLEX’s six-game winning streak by claiming a 108-92 victory that boosted its quarterfinal hopes in the PBA Philippine Cup on Sunday at Philsports Arena in Pasig City.

Chris Newsome, rookie CJ Cansino, Bong Quinto, Chris Banchero and the returning Cliff Hodge played key parts as the Bolts picked up their second straight triumph for a 5-5 card with a game left in their rollercoaster elimination round campaign.

Meralco also denied NLEX’s first crack at securing a quarterfinals berth while also dealing the Road Warriors their first major adversity in their impressive run at this point of the all-Filipino tournament.

NLEX fell to a tie for second at 6-2 with San Miguel Beer, which earlier crushed Blackwater in the first game.

Newsome scored 21 points on top of five assists and two steals, Cansino dropped 20 points off the bench, Quinto and Banchero added 18 and 16 while Hodge had 12 points, five rebounds and four assists.

Hodge returned to action after serving a one-game suspension for his rough foul on Magnolia’s Zavier Lucero during their game a couple of weeks ago.

Robert Bolick hit 22 points but the Road Warriors couldn’t complete their comeback against a Meralco side that sorely needed a win to avoid further complications.

Meralco wraps up its eliminations on Friday against old rival Barangay Ginebra at Smart Araneta Coliseum before shifting its focus to the Basketball Champions League Asia campaign in Dubai.

NLEX seeks to bounce back and secure a quarterfinal seat on Sunday opposite Phoenix at the Big Dome.