Meralco made sure there would be no slow start this time, imposing its rhythm early and never letting go in a convincing win on Sunday, March 29 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

The Bolts leaned on discipline and control to dismantle the Titan Ultra Giant Risers, 118-105, bouncing back from their previous loss with a performance that reflected their trademark methodical approach.

From the opening quarter to the final buzzer, Meralco dictated the pace and forced Titan to play catch-up throughout.

Jones, Cansino power decisive third-quarter surge

Marvin Jones and CJ Cansino led the charge, responding emphatically after quiet outings in their last game. Jones delivered a double-double with 24 points and 14 rebounds, while Cansino erupted for 26 points to anchor the offense.

The pair combined to ignite a decisive third-quarter run that blew the game wide open, stretching Meralco’s lead to as much as 78-50. That cushion proved crucial as Titan attempted to mount a late comeback.

Despite the offensive explosion, it was Meralco’s defensive execution that set the tone early, limiting Titan’s primary options and forcing them into difficult possessions.

Bolts hold off late rally, tighten grip on standings

Titan showed signs of life in the fourth quarter behind rookie Bryan Sajonia, who erupted for a career-high 29 points to spark a rally that trimmed the deficit to single digits.

However, Meralco responded with composure. A key stretch fueled by free throws and timely stops restored a double-digit cushion and effectively shut the door on any serious comeback attempt.

The Bolts also contained Titan import Michael Gilmore, holding him to a PBA-low 25 points, while Joshua Munzon was limited to just nine after a strong showing in his previous game.

With the win, Meralco improved to 3-1 to move into a share of second place, while Titan dropped to 1-3 after failing to sustain momentum from its earlier upset victory.