Bolts Hold Off Late Tropang 5G Rally to Secure Win

Meralco looked to be in full control but nearly watched a commanding lead slip away before hanging on for a 110-106 victory over TNT at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium on Tuesday night in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup.

The Bolts came out strong, starting with a 9-0 run and building a 17-point lead heading into the final quarter. However, TNT refused to back down, exploding for 35 points in the fourth and narrowing the gap to just two, 105-107, with under a minute to go.

“They hung around. We were up by 12 with five minutes left, but they kept fighting. Still, a win is a win, and that’s what matters,” said Meralco coach Luigi Trillo, whose team now shares second place with NLEX at 4-1, behind unbeaten Rain or Shine (4-0).

Trillo also expressed concern over his team’s struggles at the free-throw line, as Meralco allowed 51 free-throw attempts by TNT.

“That’s a concern, but at the end of the day, we take the W,” he added.

CJ Cansino played a key role for the Bolts, earning Best Player of the Game honors with 19 points, four rebounds, and four assists.

“Our experience from the last series definitely helped. The pain from our 1-4 loss to TNT in the Philippine Cup semis stayed with us, and we used it to fuel our effort tonight,” Cansino said.

Import Marvin Jones had a standout performance, matching up well against TNT’s Bol Bol with 29 points and 12 rebounds. Bol Bol, in turn, finished with 28 points and 12 boards but missed a critical final shot that could have tied the game.

Despite TNT’s fiery fourth-quarter rally, Meralco held firm, executing just enough to secure the victory. Their fast breaks, ball movement, and defense set the tone for most of the game.

Though they wavered in the final quarter, the Bolts left the court with the important win in hand after a hard-fought contest.