PBA: Meralco ties semis series as TNT loses Bol Bol to injury

SCHEDULE: PBA Commissioner’s Cup 2026 Semifinals

Meralco Bolts’ Chris Newsome during a game vs TNT Tropang 5G in the 2026 PBA Commissioner’s Cup semifinals. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines—Meralco took advantage of a depleted TNT and scored an 87-76 win in Game 2 of the PBA Commissioner’s Cup semifinals at Mall of Asia Arena on Friday.

The Bolts capitalized after the Tropang 5G lost import Bol Bol in the first quarter due to a partially torn Achilles tendon as they evened the best-of-seven series at 1-1.

“You still can’t let your guard down,” Chris Newsome said after dropping 24 points in the win.

“It was all about getting stops, it was a low-scoring game so it was mission accomplished but then again this is only one game.”

Meralco built an eight-point lead midway through the fourth quarter, 73-65, before TNT threatened with a late rally despite playing without its import.

The Tropang 5G unleashed a 9-3 run capped by a triple from Calvin Oftana to trim the deficit to 76-74 with 3:44 remaining.

Newsome and Marvin Jones, however, answered with back-to-back baskets to restore order and push the Bolts ahead, 80-74, with 2:36 left.

TNT Tropang 5G import Bol Bol suffers an injury during Game 2 of the PBA Commissioner’s Cup semifinals vs Meralco Bolts. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

Bol exited in the opening quarter after suffering the injury while driving to the basket. He was rushed out of the arena for an MRI and finished with 10 points and six rebounds before being ruled out for the remainder of the conference.

Jones and Cliff Hodge got a couple of double-doubles for Meralco. The import tallied 16 points and 13 rebounds while Hodge turned in 12 points and 10 rebounds. Javee Mocon also had 16.

Roger Pogoy paced TNT in the defeat with 27 points, while Oftana nearly posted a double-double with 22 points and nine rebounds.