Defending champion Meralco punched its ticket to the quarterfinals to close the elimination round after edging out Barangay Ginebra, 82-73, in an emotionally-charged encounter in the PBA Philippine Cup on Friday at Smart Araneta Coliseum.

The Bolts’ defensive stand set up opportunities on the other end that frustrated not only the Gin Kings but also their coach Tim Cone, who was ejected for the first time this season with two technical fouls.

READ: PBA: Magnolia win over Meralco overshadowed by late scuffle

Cone got tossed with less than a minute left after entering the court once more to protest the officiating.

Meralco ended the eliminations at 6-5 to assure itself of a place in the last eight before shifting its focus to the Basketball Champions League Asia campaign from June 7 to 13 in Dubai.

Coach Luigi Trillo said the Bolts will leave next week for the competition where they’ll shoot for a spot in the quarterfinals of the nine-team field.

Chris Newsome scored 15 points with six rebounds and two blocks, Chris Banchero scored 14 while Cliff Hodge had 11 points and seven rebounds. The Bolts also got a key contribution from sophomore Brandon Bates with four points and nine rebounds.

Scottie Thompson and Jamie Malonzo dropped 16 points each but Ginebra saw its three-game winning streak snapped to fall in a three-way share of third with TNT and Rain or Shine at 5-3.

The loss served as an inauspicious start to a tough stretch for the Gin Kings, who after facing the Bolts will play another rival in the league-leading Magnolia Hotshots on Sunday at the same venue.