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Tag: Meralco Bolts

  • Patrick Gardner adjusting quickly as Meralco pushes through semis 

    Patrick Gardner adjusting quickly as Meralco pushes through semis 

    Less than two weeks after Patrick Gardner saw his championship hopes collapse in Japan, the American-Egyptian big man suddenly found himself in Manila — wearing a Meralco jersey and stepping into the pressure of a semifinal series.


    The 26-year-old arrived in the PBA carrying unfinished business after his Fukushima Firebonds suffered a devastating sweep against the Kobe Storks in the Japanese B. League Division 2 Finals last May 17. 

     

    The defeat cost Fukushima both the title and a coveted promotion to Division 1. 

     

    Instead of heading into vacation mode, Gardner was suddenly thrown into another playoff war after Meralco replaced Marvin Jones following the Bolts’ Game 3 defeat to an all-Filipino TNT Tropang 5G squad.

     

    “This kind of happened very quick, and I thought it would be a great opportunity for me to play in a country like this with such big basketball fans, and I jumped on it,” Gardner said.

     

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    “Well, I was expecting to go into my off season, and then like I was taking a rest for a week, and then I got the call for this opportunity, and yeah, I started to get back into the gym,” he added.

     

    In his PBA debut during Meralco’s Game 4 semifinal clash, Gardner immediately gave the Bolts the interior presence they badly needed. Despite fouling out with 3:26 remaining, he still produced 20 points, 13 rebounds, and three assists to help Meralco stay alive in the series.

     

    “I don’t want to lose in the championship again… I still have the hunger,” he said.

     

    Gardner admitted his debut was far from perfect, especially with the adjustment to PBA officiating and physicality, but the victory mattered more than the mistakes.

     

    “I’m just happy we won the game, ultimately. Like, it’s my first game here, so ultimately I think that was most important. But, yeah, I think I had a good game. Had six fouls, so that wasn’t good, but it’s a learning curve. So I’m just here to keep learning and getting better,” the American-Egyptian player said.

     

    Meralco head coach Luigi Trillo appreciated not only Gardner’s production, but also the circumstances surrounding it. The import had barely joined the team, was still recovering from a grueling Finals run in Japan, and even battled cramps throughout the game.

     

    “He’s fresh from the Japanese Division 2. He just played, I think, in the finals. So, 10 days off. Pero ‘yun nga sinasabi niya, palagi ‘pag first game of the season kahit saan na-ccramps daw siya,” Trillo added.

     

    Although Gardner previously played in the Philippines during the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup with the Egyptian national team, he admitted the PBA remains a completely different challenge.

     

    “It’s definitely an adjustment compared to Japan or G League or college or anything. But the fans are great. I mean, right when we walked on the court, it was just a full crowd, so, yeah, it was nice,” he shared.

     

    With Meralco still chasing control of the best-of-seven semifinal series, Gardner acknowledged he wishes he had more time to learn the system and build chemistry with the team. But the Bolts no longer have the luxury of waiting.

     

    Now, just days after turning personal disappointment into a crucial Game 4 response, Gardner and Meralco head back to the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Friday for another pivotal showdown against TNT Tropang 5G in Game 5.

     

     

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  • CJ Cansino played through a nose fracture to lead Meralco to Game 4 semis win over TNT

    CJ Cansino played through a nose fracture to lead Meralco to Game 4 semis win over TNT

    Sophomore guard CJ Cansino rose to the occasion in dramatic fashion on Wednesday night, knocking down a clutch four-point shot in the final minutes to power the Meralco Bolts to a crucial 101-90 victory over TNT Tropang Giga in Game 4 of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Season 50 Commissioner’s Cup semifinals at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

     

    With the win, the Bolts evened the best-of-seven semifinal series at 2-2 and regained momentum heading into the pivotal Game 5 showdown.

     

    Cansino delivered the dagger at the most critical point of the contest. Meralco appeared in control for most of the fourth quarter, but TNT mounted a late rally behind veteran sniper Roger Pogoy, whose corner triple sliced the Bolts’ once-comfortable 11-point advantage down to just three points, 93-90, with under two minutes remaining.

     

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    As the Tropang Giga threatened to complete the comeback, Meralco turned to its young guard for a response.

     

    With the shot clock winding down and a defender draped all over him, Cansino calmly launched a booming 27-foot four-pointer from well beyond the arc. The ball swished through the net with 1:21 left on the clock, igniting the crowd and restoring Meralco’s breathing room at 97-90.

     

    The clutch basket effectively crushed TNT’s momentum and sealed one of Meralco’s biggest wins of the conference.

     

    Cansino finished with 17 points, more than doubling his 8.3-point scoring average through the first three games of the series. Beyond the numbers, however, it was the toughness and resilience he displayed throughout the game that stood out most.

    The 26-year-old guard suited up despite suffering a fractured nose earlier in the series, forcing him to wear a protective face mask during the contest. According to Cansino, the injury happened during Game 1 after an accidental hit from teammate Jordan Heading.

     

    “Nung Game 1 namin, fourth quarter ata ‘yun nung tinamaan ako ni Jordan Heading sa corner. So doon siya nakuha. May fracture daw,” Cansino said during the postgame press conference.

     

    Adjusting to the protective mask was far from easy, especially with the tight turnaround between games. Still, the versatile guard made sure to put in the necessary work to adapt.

     

    “Kasi nung umpisa sobrang struggling. Kasi hindi kami nakapag-practice one day lang pagitan ng mga games. So talagang pinag-decide ko kung gagamitin ko ba o hindi. So nag-reps nalang ako sa practice ng marami talaga. As in every day nag-rereps ako hanggang masanay ako. And then masasabi ko makakatulong naman ‘yun,” he added.

     

    Despite the discomfort, Cansino ultimately chose to keep wearing the mask, believing it allowed him to play his usual aggressive style without worrying too much about aggravating the injury.

     

    “Mahirap kasi kapag hindi ko ginamit baka mas mailang ako na hindi maging physical kasi iingatan ko yung ilong ko. So sabi ko sanayin ko nalang na may mask. Well ‘yun nga ‘yung sabi, mag-mask ako para gumaling ‘yung fracture. So kapag tinamaan siya ulit kasi, ma-dislocate at kailangan na siya operahan,” Cansino concluded.

     

    Cansino’s fearless performance provided a major spark for Meralco, which showed poise down the stretch after allowing TNT to creep back into the game. His timely four-point conversion not only highlighted his confidence under pressure but also underscored the depth and composure the Bolts have relied on throughout the semifinals.

     

    Now with the series tied at two games apiece, all eyes shift to Game 5 on Friday, May 29, once again at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. Meralco will look to ride the momentum of its Game 4 victory, while TNT hopes to quickly regroup in what is shaping up to be a fiercely contested semifinal battle.

     

    If Cansino continues to provide the same energy, toughness, and clutch shot-making, the Bolts may have found the x-factor capable of swinging the series in their favor.

     

     

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  • CJ Cansino hits big 4-pointer as Meralco downs TNT to tie semis series at 2-2 

    CJ Cansino hits big 4-pointer as Meralco downs TNT to tie semis series at 2-2 

    Sophomore guard CJ Cansino drilled a clutch four-point shot in the final minutes to help the Meralco Bolts stave off a late TNT rally and secure a 101-90 victory, tying the PBA Season 50 Commissioner’s Cup semifinals at 2-2 on Wednesday at the SMART Araneta Coliseum.

     

    With Meralco’s 11-point lead trimmed down to just three, 93-90, following a corner triple by TNT’s Roger Pogoy, Cansino launched a booming 27-foot four-pointer under heavy defensive pressure. The shot found the bottom of the net with 1:21 remaining, stretching the lead to 97-90 and effectively halting the Tropang Giga’s comeback attempt.

     

    Cansino finished the match with 17 points, a significant jump from his 8.3-point average over the first three games of the series.

     

    “Mas natuto lang kami sa past games namin. And ‘yung composure namin mas kailangan pa… diinan pa, kasi ganu’n palagi nagiging problema namin eh,” said Cansino after the game.

     

    The Bolts closed out the game on an 8-0 run, highlighted by a putback from Javee Mocon and a driving layup by Cliff Hodge, keeping TNT scoreless for the remainder of the contest. The win turns the all-MVP Group matchup into a virtual best-of-three series.

     

    The strong finish also handed new Meralco import Patrick Gardner a victorious debut. The American-Egyptian forward anchored the Bolts with a double-double of 20 points, including three three-pointers, and 13 rebounds before fouling out of the game with 3:26 left on the clock.

     

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    Head coach Luigi Trillo credited his team’s focus after losing their reinforcement down the stretch.

     

    “They found their rhythm there, even with Patrick fouling out,” Trillo said. “I thought we did a good job as a team keeping our poise not only on offense but defense as well.”

     

    Meralco displayed balanced scoring across the board. Mocon recorded his own double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds, Aaron Black chipped in 12 markers, and Chris Newsome added 11 points to provide solid offensive support.

     

    The Bolts’ defensive effort spoiled the PBA comeback of TNT’s new import Chris McCullough. The former champion with San Miguel led the Tropang Giga with 24 points and nine rebounds but struggled from the floor, shooting just 7-of-22.

     

    Jordan Heading contributed 15 points for TNT, while Pogoy and Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser tallied 14 apiece. Calvin Oftana rounded out the double-digit scorers for the Tropa with 10 points.

     

    Game 5 of the series is scheduled for Friday at the SMART Araneta Coliseum. 

     

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  • Patrick Gardner thrown into the fire as Meralco gambles on mid-series import change 

    Patrick Gardner thrown into the fire as Meralco gambles on mid-series import change 

    Meralco is betting that a fresh face can change the course of its season.

     

    With their PBA Commissioner’s Cup semifinal campaign suddenly hanging by a thread, the Bolts made the stunning decision to part ways with import Marvin Jones and bring in Patrick Gardner ahead of the pivotal Game 4 clash against TNT Tropang 5G on Wednesday.

     

    It was a move few expected — especially after Jones had just delivered one of his best performances of the conference.

     

    But after absorbing a painful 77-75 loss in Game 3 to fall behind 2-1 in the series, Meralco’s front office clearly decided that staying the course was no longer enough. The franchise instead chose urgency, bringing in Gardner in hopes of jolting the team back to life before the series slips away completely.

     

    Now, the 26-year-old American-Egyptian big man walks straight into one of the most pressure-packed situations imaginable.

     

    There will be no adjustment period. No slow buildup. No luxury of easing into the system.

     

    From the moment he steps on the floor, Gardner is expected to help rescue a Meralco side desperately searching for answers against a TNT squad that has slowly seized momentum in the semifinals.

     

    Gardner enters the PBA carrying a résumé built across different levels of basketball. Although he went undrafted in the 2023 NBA Draft, he earned opportunities in the NBA G League with the Long Island Nets and Osceola Magic before taking his talents overseas to Japan’s B.League with the Fukushima Firebonds.

     

    He also owns international experience after representing Egypt in the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup, where he averaged 8.8 points and 4.8 rebounds per game against elite competition.

     

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    Still, replacing Jones will not be easy.

     

    Throughout the semifinals, Jones had been one of Meralco’s most reliable anchors, averaging 20 points, 14 rebounds, and three assists while carrying much of the Bolts’ interior workload on both ends of the floor.

     

    In what now appears to be his farewell game with the franchise, Jones delivered a monster 22-point, 25-rebound effort in Game 3. But despite his dominance on the glass, Meralco still walked away empty-handed after TNT escaped with a narrow victory behind Roger Pogoy’s late-game heroics.

     

    That loss may have ultimately convinced the Bolts that they needed a different kind of presence moving forward.

     

    Gardner now inherits the responsibility of helping Meralco extend its season against a TNT side that continues to gain confidence despite dealing with its own import issues following Bol Bol’s Achilles injury.

     

    For Meralco, the gamble is simple: if the series is already slipping away, they might as well take a swing big enough to change everything. 

     

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  • TNT seek to strengthen semifinal hold and take 3-1 lead over Meralco amid import shake-up 

    TNT seek to strengthen semifinal hold and take 3-1 lead over Meralco amid import shake-up 

    Game 4 of the PBA Commissioner’s Cup semifinals arrives with more than just a series lead on the line, it carries the weight of constant adjustments and shifting import dynamics between TNT Tropang 5G and Meralco Bolts.


    Set Wednesday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, the matchup sees TNT holding a 2-1 advantage in the best-of-seven series, despite a turbulent stretch that saw them play without an import and still emerge with a crucial Game 3 escape act.

     

    Even in adversity, TNT proved its resilience. Stripped of an import following the season-ending injury to Bol Bol during a prior outing, the Tropang 5G absorbed a 76-87 defeat that briefly tied the series before responding with a narrow but vital 77-75 victory last Sunday.

     

    That Game 3 win was defined by composure rather than comfort as RR Pogoy delivered the decisive moment, drilling a go-ahead three-pointer in the final seconds after Chris Newsome briefly gave Meralco a late 75-74 edge. 

     

    The Bolts had one last chance to extend the game, but missed close-range attempts sealed their fate and handed TNT a hard-earned series lead.

     

    Now, both teams enter Game 4 with significantly altered arsenals. TNT is set to welcome back former San Miguel import Chris McCullough, a familiar presence in the conference who previously powered a championship run in 2019. 

     

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    While he stands shorter than the injured Bol Bol, McCullough’s inside-out versatility and experience are expected to provide TNT with both stability and scoring balance.

     

    On the other side, Meralco is responding with a major gamble of its own, bringing in new import Patrick Gardner to replace Marvin Jones after a difficult stretch in the series.

     

    Jones had been productive statistically with 20 points and 14 rebounds per game, but efficiency issues and inconsistent finishing mirrored Meralco’s broader offensive struggles. The Bolts now hope Gardner’s size and presence can provide a different dimension immediately in his PBA debut.

     

    Still, the biggest challenge may not be the imports themselves — but how the locals adapt around them.

     

    For Meralco, Chris Newsome has carried much of the offensive burden, averaging 15 points per game, while support from CJ Cansino, Cliff Hodge, Bong Quinto, and Chris Banchero has been inconsistent throughout the series.

     

    In contrast, TNT has maintained a more balanced attack, with contributions spread across Calvin Oftana, Pogoy, Jordan Heading, and rotational support from Rey Nambatac and Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser.

     

    With both teams introducing new imports at a critical stage of the series, Game 4 is shaping up less as a continuation and more as a reset.

     

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  • Roger Pogoy delivers late dagger as TNT’s all-Filipino grit stuns Meralco for 2-1 semifinals lead 

    Roger Pogoy delivers late dagger as TNT’s all-Filipino grit stuns Meralco for 2-1 semifinals lead 

    With no import to lean on and momentum slipping away in the final seconds, TNT turned to its toughness and to Roger Pogoy.


    Pogoy drilled the game-winning three with 7.4 seconds left as the Tropang 5G escaped with a thrilling 77-75 victory over Meralco on Sunday at the Mall of Asia Arena, seizing a 2-1 edge in their PBA Season 50 Commissioner’s Cup semifinal series.

     

    The veteran player answered immediately after Chris Newsome knocked down a clutch triple that briefly pushed the Bolts ahead, 75-74. TNT wasted no time on the other end, isolating Pogoy for the decisive shot that completed another gutsy performance from the all-Filipino squad.

     

    Playing their first game since the departure of import Bol Bol, the Tropang 5G leaned entirely on their local core and found enough firepower and composure to outlast a Meralco side bannered by import Marvin Jones.

     

    TNT appeared headed for defeat after trailing 72-66 late in the fourth quarter, but Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser and Kelly Williams fueled a pivotal 8-0 run that swung the momentum and briefly restored a 74-72 lead before the frantic finish unfolded.

     

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    The Bolts still had chances to steal the game, but missed attempts from CJ Cansino and Jason Brickman in the closing moments allowed TNT to preserve the narrow win.

     

    Rey Nambatac paced the Tropang 5G with a conference-best 18 points and eight rebounds, continuing his strong stretch in the playoffs. Calvin Oftana added 15 points and seven boards, while Jordan Heading chipped in 12 markers as TNT showcased its depth with nine players contributing at least two points.

     

    “More than the caliber and depth of our team, I think it’s our heart, really. All of our discussions in practice, even before any kind of game planning, were just about setting our minds right that we have a chance,” coach Chot Reyes said.

     

    “Yesterday, our discussion was because we’re all-Filipino without Bol, we cannot match Meralco’s energy and effort. We have to overcome it. We have to find a way to put in more energy and effort. I think that’s how the game panned out,” he added.

     

    Jones finished with 22 points and 15 rebounds for Meralco, while Newsome added 10 points, six rebounds, and four assists in the losing effort.

     

    Game 4 is set for Wednesday at the SMART Araneta Coliseum, where TNT is expected to unveil either Malick Diouf or Chris McCullough as its new import.

     

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  • Healthy TNT gives Meralco a bigger problem in Game 2 

    Healthy TNT gives Meralco a bigger problem in Game 2 

    For most of the conference, TNT Tropang 5G spent more time searching for the right lineup than building momentum.

     

    Injuries repeatedly disrupted the defending champions’ rhythm, forcing coach Chot Reyes to shuffle combinations and adjust roles almost every game. But now, at the most important stretch of the season, TNT finally appears complete — and that reality may have created an even bigger problem for Meralco heading into Game 2 of the PBA Commissioner’s Cup semifinals on Friday at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.

     

    The Tropang 5G struck first in the series with a 94-89 win in Game 1, but more than the result itself, it was how TNT looked that raised concern for the Bolts.

     

    For the first time in weeks, the defending champions played with their preferred core fully available — and the difference immediately showed.

     

    Bol Manute Bol controlled the interior with 37 points, 11 rebounds, eight assists, and six blocks, while Calvin Oftana, Roger Pogoy, Rey Nambatac, and Jordan Heading gave TNT the spacing, shot-making, and versatility it lacked earlier in the conference.

     

    According to Reyes, this was the version of TNT they had envisioned all along.

     

    “That’s really a lineup we like going to because it’s pretty hard to match up and defend that lineup,” said Reyes.

     

    “We were struggling the whole conference trying to find that combination and that balance. But remember we were never fully healthy in the eliminations,” he added.

     

    “So, we were really not able to put in the lineup that we want together. Fortunately, as the eliminations wound down, we got Roger back to a hundred percent healthy and I think what you’re seeing now is being able to finally put the combinations that we want together.”

     

    The timing could not have been better for TNT.

     

    After missing eight elimination-round games, Pogoy looked fully locked in during the playoff opener, finishing with 21 points and nine rebounds while also helping slow down Meralco’s perimeter attack. Oftana added a double-double with 14 points and 11 boards, while Heading provided another offensive spark off the bench with 16 markers.

     

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    But the biggest issue for Meralco remains Bol.

     

    The 7-foot-3 import dominated both ends despite struggling from the free throw line, where he shot just 5-of-13. Even then, his impact completely changed the complexion of the game, particularly inside where TNT overwhelmed the Bolts, 56-42, in points in the paint.

     

    That interior advantage effectively erased Meralco’s edge from the perimeter and exposed one of the team’s biggest concerns entering Game 2 — its inability to consistently contain TNT near the basket.

     

    The Bolts also struggled to find offensive rhythm themselves.

     

    Import Marvin Jones still managed 22 points and 14 rebounds, but he missed his first seven attempts and never fully established control offensively. Chris Newsome was limited to just 11 points, while CJ Cansino, one of Meralco’s reliable scorers this conference, finished with only 12 after dealing with Pogoy’s defense for most of the night. 

     

    Oddsmakers also appear to be leaning toward TNT heading into the second game of the series. According to OKBet Sportsbook, the Tropang 5G enter Game 2 as slight favorites with 1.73 odds, while Meralco is listed at 2.07 as the underdog. The over/under for the matchup has been set at 195.0, signaling expectations of another tight and physical battle between the two semifinal contenders. 

     

    Meralco now heads into Friday’s matchup facing the possibility of falling into a dangerous 0-2 hole.

     

    And unlike earlier in the conference when TNT was still trying to figure itself out, the Bolts are suddenly dealing with a Tropang 5G side that may finally be whole at exactly the right time.

     

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  • Jordan Heading breaks out of slump as TNT outlast Meralco in Game 1 

    Jordan Heading breaks out of slump as TNT outlast Meralco in Game 1 

    In TNT’s hard-fought PBA Season 50 Commissioner’s Cup semifinals Game 1, 94-89 win over the Meralco Bolts, Jordan Heading emerged as one of the defining difference-makers off the bench.

     

    Heading flipped the script on a conference-long slump by contributing 16 points while also supplying the kind of defensive effort with two rebounds and one steal. 

     

    His breakout came at a crucial moment — not as a lone scoring burst, but as part of a broader TNT adjustment that leaned on balance and timing alongside the towering presence of the team’s import, Bol Bol.

     

    With Meralco tightening its defense on Calvin Oftana and forcing possessions into more difficult looks, TNT needed another local to steady the offense and Heading was there to answer.

     

    “He’s been struggling with his shot, and his offense the whole conference, but we’ve been very happy with the way he’s been playing defense,” said head coach Chot Reyes.

     

    “He’s putting in the effort there and we talk about it in our team, there are many ways to impact the game not just offensively. Today he had some key defensive stops that he’s been doing the whole conference. When his offense is clicking as well that’s a big plus for us,” the veteran coach added.

     

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    What made Heading’s performance more valuable was its timing. His contributions helped stabilize TNT’s attack whenever Meralco threatened to turn defensive pressure into momentum, allowing the Tropang 5G to maintain control in a game that tightened late before they eventually closed it out.

     

    TNT’s structure in the semifinals opener wasn’t built on one dominant run alone. Instead, it was a collection of responses.

     

    “All five of us are making really big-time plays and just doing what we need to do, and go to Bol down the stretch, and he’s gonna deliver,” Heading said.

     

    Heading’s emergence became the release valve that kept the offense from stalling completely during key stretches.

     

    “They did a great job defending Calvin and we all knew how good (Chris) Newsome is on defense,” coach Reyes said.

     

    “So, it was important that we have another guy stepping up and normally that’s either Ray (Pogoy), Jayson (Castro) and tonight, Jordan (Heading). When we get that scorer, it really helps our offense. It really helps the flow of our game,” he added. 

     

    Beyond scoring, Heading emphasized that his role in the series extends into areas that often go unnoticed, particularly on the defensive end, where TNT’s identity against Meralco has historically been defined.

     

    “They’re really good at executing off the ball so we have to do a better job on the defensive end,” Heading said.

     

    In a playoff game decided by small margins, Heading’s two-way contribution became one of those subtle but decisive edges, helping TNT survive Meralco’s push and seize a 1-0 lead in the series.

     

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  • TNT escapes Meralco in tight finish to open semifinals with Game 1 win 

    TNT escapes Meralco in tight finish to open semifinals with Game 1 win 

    TNT Tropang 5G’s slow and uneven run through the elimination round suddenly feels like a distant memory. What once looked like a team still searching for rhythm is now beginning to resemble the version head coach Chot Reyes envisioned from the start.


    That transformation was on full display Wednesday night at the Ynares Center Antipolo, where TNT leaned on the performance of Bol Bol and the local core to escape Meralco, 94-89, and seize Game 1 of their PBA Season 50 Commissioner’s Cup semifinal series.

     

    For much of the conference, TNT struggled to build continuity despite carrying arguably the most talented import in the tournament. Injuries repeatedly disrupted the Tropang 5G’s rotations, preventing the defending champions from establishing consistency during their up-and-down 6-6 elimination campaign.

     

    But in the semifinals, TNT is finally beginning to look whole. Bol Bol delivered another dominant outing, by anchoring both ends of the floor with 37 points, 11 rebounds, eight assists, and six blocks.

     

    After Meralco threatened to erase TNT’s cushion in the closing minute, the towering import responded with a tough layup with 56.3 seconds remaining — a basket that ultimately sealed the five-point victory and silenced the Bolts’ final rally.

     

    The Tropang 5G appeared to take control after unleashing a decisive 14-2 run midway through the fourth quarter, turning a tense contest into what briefly looked like a comfortable finish. Meralco, however, refused to fold and mounted one last push behind its relentless energy and hustle plays.

     

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    Roger Pogoy provided the much-needed offensive support with 21 points, nine rebounds, and two assists, while Jordan Heading, one of the key players sidelined at various points in the eliminations — added 16 points and two rebounds. Calvin Oftana also imposed his presence with a 14-point, 11-rebound double-double.

     

    Their contributions underscored what Reyes believes is finally changing for TNT.

     

    “We didn’t have a fully healthy Roger Pogoy, Jordan missed a couple of games, we missed Brandon [Ganuelas-Rosser] for a couple of games, so we couldn’t put out the lineup we wanted on a consistent basis,” Reyes said.

     

    “Fortunately, as the eliminations wound down, we got Roger back 100 percent, and what you’re seeing now are the combinations that we wanted,” he added.

     

    While TNT showcased its growing chemistry, Meralco proved it remains more than capable of turning the series into a grind.

     

    Marvin Jones paced the Bolts with 22 points and 14 rebounds, while Kier Quinto continued his efficient play with 17 points on an impressive 6-of-9 shooting clip. CJ Cansino and Chris Newsome chipped in 12 and 11 points, respectively, keeping Meralco within striking distance until the final seconds.

     

    But beyond the numbers, Reyes emphasized that TNT’s victory came from matching Meralco’s trademark intensity.

     

    “The foundation of our game plan is to not allow Meralco to outwork us and to win the efforts stats, so diving for the loose ball, extra effort, deflection, setting good screens,” TNT head coach Reyes said.

     

    TNT now carries both momentum and confidence heading into Game 2 on Friday, May 22, at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay.

     

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  • TNT faces different Meralco test as Bol Bol, Tropang 5G chase return to Finals 

    TNT faces different Meralco test as Bol Bol, Tropang 5G chase return to Finals 

    For TNT, the semifinals are starting to feel familiar. The Tropang 5G are back in the Final Four for yet another conference, once again carrying championship expectations and once again staring at Meralco on the other side of the bracket.

     

    But while TNT enters the PBA Commissioner’s Cup semifinals as the defending champion and slight favorite, the feeling around the matchup is far from comfortable.

     

    Not after the way Meralco has evolved into one of the league’s most complete and disciplined teams.

     

    Not after the Bolts handed TNT one of its most convincing losses of the eliminations.

     

    And definitely not after the way Meralco survived its own playoff war just to get here.

     

    “Obviously, they are deserving to make the finals and they are hard to beat in a seven-game series,” acknowledged Meralco coach Luigi Trillo. “But with the way we are playing we deserve to be there, too.”

     

    That confidence did not come out of nowhere.

     

    Meralco had to grind through a tense quarterfinal series against Magnolia, eventually escaping with a 105-102 overtime win in the knockout game to punch its ticket back to the semifinals.

     

    The Bolts leaned on composure, physicality, and timely execution — the same formula they hope can finally crack TNT in a long playoff series.

     

    Across the floor stands a TNT squad that also had to survive adversity.

     

    The Tropang 5G dropped their first quarterfinal meeting against NLEX before regrouping behind Bol Manute Bol and their veteran core to complete the comeback and keep their title defense alive.

     

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    Now, the challenge becomes even steeper.

     

    TNT coach Chot Reyes admitted this version of Meralco looks far tougher than the team they disposed of in five games during the Philippine Cup semifinals last conference.

     

    “That’s a complete team. They’re playing at a very high level. If you remember in our elimination round game tinambakan kami ng Meralco, right?” Reyes said.

     

    Back in April, Meralco stunned TNT with a 110-106 victory after leading by as many as 20 points — a game that exposed just how dangerous the Bolts can be when they dictate the pace and physicality.

     

    For Reyes, that game remains an important reminder entering the series.

     

    “They have so many offensive weapons that it’s incumbent upon us to, number one, defend well and rebound. They’re also one of the more physical teams in the league and you see how teams are playing Bol,” he added.

     

    “So, we have to be able to cope with that and play through that.”

     

    That may ultimately decide the series.

     

    Because while Bol continues to draw attention as TNT’s towering centerpiece, Meralco’s ability to crowd him, pressure the locals, and turn games into physical battles could once again test the composure of the defending champions.

     

    And this time, the Bolts are no longer simply hoping to compete with TNT. They fully believe they belong beside them.

     

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