Coach Chot Reyes no longer needs Bol Bol, the towering import of TNT Tropang 5G, after his team's thrilling 77-75 victory over sister-team Meralco on Sunday, May 24, 2026, at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
Bol Bol watched from the gallery, cheering his former teammates while nursing an injured ankle suffered in Game 2, which evened the best-of-seven series at 1-1. The 7-foot-4 import, the tallest and most dominant in the PBA Commissioner's Cup, averaged 35 points per game before his conference-ending injury.
Despite losing their offensive powerhouse, TNT showcased a stifling defense and precise execution, coupled with a stroke of luck, to overcome the odds and hand Meralco a stunning defeat.
The game came down to the final seconds, with Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser (BGR) and RR Pogoy stepping up. Trailing 72-69, BGR completed a three-point play on a driving layup, then hit a short jumper for a 74-72 lead with 1:37 left. Meralco's Chris Newsome answered with a triple to reclaim a 75-74 lead with 28.2 seconds remaining.
After a timeout, Pogoy drained a three-pointer over the outstretched arms of Cliff Hodge, giving TNT a 77-75 lead with 7.4 seconds left. Meralco's Crispin John Cancino drove the lane but missed the layup. Bong Guinto grabbed the offensive rebound but missed the putback, allowing TNT to secure a 2-1 series lead.
BGR, who also frustrated Meralco import Marvin Johnson with his physical play, was named best player of the game despite scoring only 8 points, adding 8 rebounds. After the game, Bol Bol was seen applauding BGR from the stands.
