Meralco sustained its surge in the PBA Season 50 Commissioner’s Cup, grinding out a 115-110 victory over the Macau Black Knights on Saturday night, April 11, at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium. The Bolts leaned on late-game execution to secure their third straight win and move into solo second place in the standings.

The win came on the heels of a statement victory over TNT, further strengthening Meralco’s position as one of the hottest teams in the conference. With five wins in six outings, the Bolts continue to build momentum in their push for a Top Four finish and a crucial twice-to-beat advantage in the quarterfinals.

Marvin Jones delivered another dominant outing with 32 points and 14 rebounds, anchoring Meralco’s inside presence while providing consistent scoring throughout the contest. His effort was complemented by CJ Cansino, who added 23 points, seven rebounds, and key plays in the closing stretch.

Meralco closes strong in tight finish

The Bolts found themselves locked in a tight battle late, with the game tied at 109 before executing a decisive closing run. Cansino broke the deadlock with a strong drive through traffic, setting the tone for a crucial stretch that shifted the game in Meralco’s favor.

Jones followed with a basket inside to extend the lead, while Cansino delivered a defensive highlight with a timely block that led to a game-sealing layup by Jansen Rios. The sequence capped a 6-1 finishing run that ultimately secured the victory.

“You give credit to them, they hang in there as they made their treys. But at the end of the game, our guys pulled through and I can’t be prouder of them,” said head coach Luigi Trillo.

Macau struggles continue despite changes

Macau remained competitive throughout the game but failed to sustain its momentum down the stretch, absorbing its sixth straight loss in as many games. Despite a coaching change, the Black Knights continued to struggle in closing out tight contests.

Phoenix Shackelford led Macau with 29 points, including an efficient performance from beyond the arc, while Tony Mitchell added 16 points and 14 rebounds. However, their efforts were not enough to overcome Meralco’s composure in crunch time.

The loss deepened Macau’s early hole in the standings, putting pressure on the team to deliver strong results in its remaining elimination round assignments. With key matchups ahead, the Black Knights face an uphill battle to keep their playoff hopes alive.

Meralco, meanwhile, continued to showcase balance and resilience, with contributions from Jason Brickman and Chris Newsome adding stability to the rotation. Their collective execution down the stretch highlighted the team’s growing confidence as the competition intensifies.