CJ Cansino turns TNT heartbreak into fuel as Meralco escapes with gritty win 

CJ Cansino and Meralco came away with more than just a win on Tuesday night. The Bolts leaned on both composure and experience to hold off TNT, 110-106, in a tense PBA Season 50 Commissioner’s Cup showdown at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium, turning what looked like a comfortable win into a hard-earned statement against their longtime rivals.

Meralco appeared to be in full control for most of the game. Behind a balanced attack and steady defensive effort, the Bolts built a lead as big as 20 points and looked ready to cruise to victory before TNT came alive in the fourth quarter and made things interesting late.

The Tropang 5G erupted for 35 points in the final frame and unleashed a 12-0 run to cut the deficit to just 107-105 with one minute left.

That late rally forced Meralco to dig deep, and according to Cansino, the game came down to who simply wanted it more in the closing stretch.

“Well yung last minute siguro para sakin, kung sino nalang gusto manalo dun e,” Cansino said after the game.

For Meralco, the urgency also came from memory. The Bolts have gone through their share of painful battles against TNT, and Cansino admitted those experiences were still very much in their minds heading into this latest rivalry clash.

“Alam mo nandun parin yung nangyari sa past experience namin with TNT,” he said.

That history helped fuel Meralco in the final minutes, especially as TNT threatened to erase everything the Bolts had built.

“‘Yung experience namin in the last series, grabe ang sakit, at ayaw namin maulit. Yung mga nangyari, dala namin sa game,” Cansino added.

Meralco’s defense then came through when it mattered most.

The Bolts forced TNT into difficult late-game possessions, including a crucial stop where they disrupted Bol Bol and prevented Jordan Heading from getting a clean lane, eventually forcing RR Pogoy into an off-balance three-point attempt that came up short.

That kind of connected defense helped Meralco survive and secure its second straight win. Marvin Jones led the way for the Bolts with 29 points and 12 rebounds, providing the inside presence Meralco needed throughout the game.

Cansino, who was later named Player of the Game, backed him up with 19 points, four rebounds, and four assists in another strong all-around performance.

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UNLI ENERGY FOR THE BOLTS

CJ Cansino and the Meralco Bolts control the game over the TNT Tropang 5G to score their third consecutive win in the PBA Season 50 Commissioner’s Cup. #PBA50 #PBA50LID pic.twitter.com/nTTtQlL7YF

— One Sports (@OneSportsPHL) April 7, 2026

Raymond Almazan gave Meralco a lift off the bench with 12 points and five rebounds, while Cliff Hodge chipped in 10 points before fouling out late.

Chris Newsome also delivered in crunch time, sinking two clutch free throws with 14.3 seconds left to stretch the lead to 109-105 and give the Bolts enough cushion to hold off TNT’s final push.

Bol Bol still finished with 28 points and 12 rebounds for TNT, but it was his lowest output so far this conference.

After averaging 37.3 points, 16.3 rebounds, and 2.6 blocks through his first three games, Meralco did enough to make life more difficult for the towering import and keep him from fully taking over.

Jordan Heading also tried to keep TNT alive with 21 points on a perfect 4-of-4 shooting from three-point range, while Calvin Oftana added 10 in the losing effort.

Still, the comeback fell short, snapping TNT’s two-game winning streak and dropping the Tropang 5G to 2-2 in the standings.

For Cansino, Meralco’s strength comes from the way the team shares responsibility instead of relying on one player to carry the load every night.

“Sa Meralco naman di namin sinasabi na ikaw yung mataas yung average, ikaw yung gagawa,” he said.

That approach was clear in Tuesday’s win, as multiple players stepped up in key moments to help Meralco finish the job.

Cansino added that his own mindset is simply to take the shots and opportunities that the game gives him.

“Nasasaktuhan lang na ako yung nalilibre sa time na yon, yung role na yun kung sakin lang bibigay yung mga reads sa game, titira ko,” he said.

In the end, Meralco did not need a perfect finish.

It just needed enough composure, enough stops, and enough trust to finally come out on top in a rivalry game that tested both its nerves and memory.

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