The Magnolia Hotshots closed their PBA Commissioner’s Cup elimination round in convincing fashion, overpowering the Meralco Bolts, 93‑76, on Sunday evening at the Mall of Asia Arena. The win secured Magnolia a 7‑5 record and the fifth seed heading into the quarterfinals. Meralco, who finished at 6‑5, dropped to fourth and will facce the same Hotshots team that dominated them. The Bolts, though, will have a win-once edge over Magnolia.
What Happened?
Meralco and Magnolia went at it in a tight first quarter, which the latter won, 18-14, as both teams locked in defensively. Come the second quarter, however, Clint Chapman began asserting himself in the paint, while Jerom Lastimosa and Mark Barroca steadied the offense. A split at the line by Brandon Bates made it 20‑15 midway through the second quarter, but that was as close as Meralco would get. Magnolia responded with a 16‑0 blitz—highlighted by back‑to‑back triples from Javi Gomez de Liaño and a driving finish from Zav Lucero—to seize control, 36‑15.
From that point, the Hotshots dictated the pace. Their defense forced Meralco into rushed possessions and contested shots, while their ball movement created open looks all over the floor. Magnolia led 46-30 at the half and never looked back.
The Bolts made one last push in the third, trimming the deficit to eight, 73‑65, behind Javee Mocon’s hustle and Chris Newsome’s mid‑range scoring. But Magnolia’s composure held firm. Chapman and Paul Lee answered with timely baskets, and the Hotshots’ defense clamped down once more, holding Meralco to just 32.8% shooting from the field and 28.6% from deep. By the final buzzer, the LA Tenori-helmed squad had outscored Meralco in every quarter except the first, sealing a wire‑to‑wire statement win.
Who Stood Out?
Chapman led the way with 19 points, 7rebounds, 3 assists, and 3 blocks—a commanding performance that anchored Magnolia’s interior defense and set the tone early. Lee added 13 points on a near‑perfect 3‑of‑4 shooting clip, while Gomez de Liaño chipped in 10 off the bench.
For Meralco, Mocon and Marvin Jones shared top‑scoring honours with 14 apiece. CJ Cansino added 11, while Jason Brickman and Chris Newsome combined for 13. Despite flashes of brilliance, the Bolts struggled to sustain momentum against Magnolia’s disciplined defence.
3 Keys to the Game
- Defensive lockdown. Magnolia’s defense was the difference. The Hotshots limited Meralco to just 76 points and forced them into 15 turnovers. The Bolts failed to score a single fast‑break point, a testament to Magnolia’s transition discipline.
- Bench depth. Magnolia’s second unit outscored Meralco’s reserves 47‑26. Gomez de Liaño and Sangalang provided crucial sparks, while Raffy Verano and Yukien Andrada added steady minutes. The bench’s energy flipped the game in the second quarter and kept the lead intact.
- Playoff mentality. Head coach LA Tenorio praised his team’s focus and preparation. “The past three games, we’ve been really in a playoff mentality already,” Tenorio said. “I challenged the players that these kinds of games will give us a chance to reach the next level.”
Next Up for the PBA: Quarterfinals
Wednesday, May 13, 2026 | Ninoy Aquino Stadium
NLEX Road Warriors vs. TNT Tropang 5G (5:15 p.m.)
Meralco Bolts vs. Magnolia Hotshots (7:30 p.m.)
