Meralco refused to become a footnote by denying TNT’s bid to win three in a row through a 97-89 victory in Game 3 of their PBA Season 50 Philippine Cup semifinal series, Friday night at the SMART Araneta Coliseum.
With all eyes on Ranidel de Ocampo’s jersey retirement, the Bolts stole the headlines instead with a consistent showing from start to finish to nail their first win of the best-of-7 series after dropping the previous two meetings.
“I truly believe that this series is far from over,” said Coach Luigi Trillo. “We have what it takes. But it’s gonna take double the effort for that Sunday game.”
(C) PBA Images
CJ Cansino came alive again and was among their top scorers with 18 points off the bench. Chris Banchero made 18 as well, together with six rebounds.
Chris Newsome produced 17 points, four rebounds, and five assists before leaving the game during the final minutes due to an apparent left knee injury.
Bong Quinto supplied 13 points while Raymond Almazan chipped in 11. The two added eight rebounds each, as they accounted for 16 of Meralco’s 41 boards.
More than the balanced attack, defense did wonders for them too, specifically on Calvin Oftana. The Bolts held the star wing to just six points on 1-of-7 shooting after allowing him to score an average of 27.0 points in Games 1 and 2.
Ditto with Jordan Heading, who laid an egg after going 0-for-7 from the floor as Meralco doubled down on the tandem after they waxed hot the last time out, in which they combined for 50 points in the dominant 109-92 victory.
“They’ve been manhandling us the last two games, so just everybody, from the coaching staff to the players, are coming together and trying to make it a little hard for them,” said Trillo, who’s still missing active consultant Nenad Vucinic.
(C) PBA Images
Roger Pogoy carried the responsibility on offense for TNT with 28 points, 12 of which he made in the third to bring his side to within four from down 16.
Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser (14 points), Rey Nambatac (14 points), and Kelly Williams (11 points) all tried to help out. However, the Bolts showed better poise, eventually ending a seven-game losing skid against their sister team.
“It’s fine and nice to get a win but, you know, we haven’t beaten this team in a long time, and we have to credit the guys for sticking together,” Trillo said.
Game 4 is on Sunday, January 11, at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay, marking the league’s return to the venue after nearly six months.
The PBA last played there on July 20, 2025, in which San Miguel beat TNT, 105-91, to take a 3-1 lead in the Season 49 Philippine Cup Finals.
The Scores:
Meralco 97 – Banchero 18, Cansino 18, Newsome 17, Quinto 13, Almazan 11, Hodge 9, Bates 4, Rios 3, Jose 3, Maliksi 2, Black 0, Caram 0.
TNT 89 – Pogoy 28, Ganuelas-Rosser 14, Nambatac 13, Williams 11, Khobuntin 6, Erram 6, Oftana 6, Jalalon 3, Jalalon 3, Galinato 2, Enciso 0, Aurin 0, Heading 0.
Quarterscores: 21-15, 47-38, 70-63, 97-89.
#WATCH: WE WANT TO HOLD THE FORT WHILE COACH NENAD IS AWAY 🏀
Meralco head coach Luigi Trillo bares that even if consultant Nenad Vucinic is on leave, he still sends game reports to the Bolts#ReadMore 👉 https://t.co/cs3dkmWGic
📹 @justinebacnis /Tiebreaker Times#PBA50 pic.twitter.com/QBgAG8kgee
— Tiebreaker Times (@tiebreakertimes) January 9, 2026
