Meralco showcased a championship-worthy performance, overpowering Terrafirma with a wire-to-wire 118-80 victory in the PBA Philippine Cup at Ninoy Aquino Stadium. The Bolts’ commanding win marked the largest winning margin in franchise history, surpassing their previous 91-89 nail-biter against Converge.
CJ Cansino led the charge with 19 points in just 19 minutes, highlighting Meralco’s balanced offensive attack. Bong Quinto set the tone early with a four-pointer and a triple, finishing with 13 points and 5 assists.
“We prepare hard every game, especially in practice,” said Quinto. “Coaches Luigi Trillo and Nenad Vucinic push us to execute our plays perfectly, so we’re always game-ready.”
Rookie Kurt Reyson contributed 16 points, while Brandon Bates, Jolo Mendoza, and Alvin Pasaol each added 11 points. All 15 Meralco players scored, demonstrating the team’s depth.
Despite Mark Sangalang’s game-high 23 points, Terrafirma struggled to replicate their earlier win against Phoenix. Stanley Pringle (11 points) and Terrence Romeo (9 points) had inefficient shooting nights, while the Dyip committed 19 turnovers, including 10 in the decisive third quarter.
Meralco shot an impressive 42-of-78 from the field, with Cansino hitting 4 of the team’s 5 four-pointers. After leading 42-22, Meralco extended their advantage in the third quarter, outscoring Terrafirma 30-13, sealing the rout early.
With the game in hand, Coach Trillo rested his starters ahead of their next big matchup against San Miguel Beer in the PBA’s 50th-anniversary celebration on Wednesday.
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