The Meralco Bolts got a tougher-than-expected challenge from the winless Macau Black Knights on Saturday. But in the end, the Bolts prevailed, 115-110, in the nightcap of PBA Commissioner’s Cup action at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium. The win moved Meralco to 5-1 for solo second place in the standings, while the loss dropped the Black Knights to 0-6 as they remain the only winless team this conference.
What Happened?
Despite coming in winless, the Black Knights proved to be a handful, matching Meralco point for point in a tight first quarter. Jenning Leung led the way with 9 early points, with Ramon Cao and Damian Chong Qui chipping in. Macau, led by Leung and Cao, continued its spirited charge in the second, outscoring the Bolts 32-27 to take a 57-53 lead into intermission.
Meralco, though, seized control after halftime, pouring in 34 third-quarter points and limiting Macau to just 24 for an 87-81 lead going to the final frame. An 8-2 start to the fourth then allowed the Black Knights to tie things up at 89, setting the stage for a tense endgame that saw six more ties and Macau even getting the lead multiple times. CJ Cansino broke the final tie—at 109-all—with a two-pointer, and Meralco held on to that lead en route to the win.
Who Stood Out?
Marvin Jones just keeps getting better, and against Macau, he put up 32 points, 14 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 blocks. He also hit timely baskets in the fourth just as the game got tense and tight. Cansino was superb as well, firing 23 points on top of 7 rebounds, 2 steals, and 2 blocks—the last of which was a game-sealing block on a potential game-tying trey attempt from Macau’s Phoenix Shackelford.
Speaking of Shackelford, he came off the Macau bench to lead the way, scoring a team-high 29 points built on 4-for-5 shooting from downtown. Leung and Cao added 21 and 20, respectively, to nearly help the Black Knights to a breakthrough win.
3 Keys to the Game
- Points in the paint. Meralco attacked Macau’s interior on Saturday, time and again challenging Tony Mitchell and getting the better of him plenty of times. The result? A 60-44 edge in interior scoring, with Jones getting his fair share of inside points, including one in the final minute that gave the Bolts a 113-110 cushion.
- Rebounding. The Bolts won the rebounding battle, 53-46, and also had an 11-9 advantage in the offensive glass. That translated to a 12-6 advantage in second-chance points, and that proved crucial in a five-point win.
- Endgame decision-making. Much of Macau’s strong fightback was undone by two bonehead plays by point guard Damian Chong Qui: an ill-advised four-point shot at 3:26 and an equally atrocious attempt at 2:14. Both times, the game was tied at 109, and the Black Knights didn’t necessarily need a four. In contrast, Meralco executed with poise and purpose, ultimately getting good looks and finishing them.
Next Up for the PBA
Sunday, April 12, 2026 | Smart Araneta Coliseum
San Miguel Beermen vs. Magnolia Hotshots (5:15 p.m.)
Barangay Ginebra San Miguel vs. Phoenix Fuel Masters (7:30 p.m.)
