MANILA — The TNT Tropang Giga have a golden opportunity to punch their ticket to the PBA Philippine Cup Finals when they face the Meralco Bolts in Game 5 of their best-of-7 semifinal series on Wednesday, January 15, 2026, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum (7:30 p.m.).
TNT leads the series 3-1 after a dominant Game 4 win (112-98) on Sunday, January 11, powered by Rondae Hollis-Jefferson’s triple-double threat and the team’s stifling defense that limited Meralco’s import Chris Banchero and local stars.
Head coach Jonas Tibayan and import Rondae Hollis-Jefferson (Williams in some reports/contexts) are determined to close out the series at home and avoid a Game 6 trip back to Meralco’s turf. TNT’s depth, experience, and home-court energy make them heavy favorites to seal the deal.
Series Recap So Far
| Game | Score | Key Performer (TNT) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | TNT 98-92 | RHJ (28 pts, 12 reb) | TNT steals homecourt |
| 2 | Meralco 101-94 | Banchero (35 pts) | Bolts even series |
| 3 | TNT 106-99 | RHJ (30 pts, 10 reb, 8 ast) | TNT regains lead |
| 4 | TNT 112-98 | RHJ triple-double threat | Dominant TNT win |
Why TNT Has the Edge
- Home-court advantage — Araneta crowd has been electric for TNT in the semis.
- Depth & Defense — Bench consistently outscores Meralco’s reserves; RHJ and Calvin Oftana forming a lethal 1-2 punch.
- Experience — TNT’s core (RHJ, Poy Erram, Jeth Troy Rosario) has championship pedigree.
Why Meralco Remains Confident
Despite trailing 1-3, the Bolts are still brimming with confidence:
- Chris Banchero remains a matchup nightmare — capable of 30+ point explosions.
- Cliff Hodge, Chris Newsome, and Aaron Black provide veteran leadership.
- Meralco’s never-say-die mentality — they’ve come back from deficits before and believe TNT can be beaten at home if they force turnovers and control the paint.
Meralco head coach Luigi Trillo echoed the squad’s belief:
“We’re down but not out. We’ve got the pieces to win three straight. Confidence is high — we just need to execute better on both ends.”
Game 5 is win-or-go-home for Meralco — a TNT victory sends the Tropang Giga to the Finals (opponent TBD from Ginebra vs. San Miguel series, currently tied 2-2).
Here are some intense visuals from Game 4 — RHJ dominating, TNT bench celebrating, Meralco’s determination, and the electric Araneta atmosphere.
This semifinal is far from over — Game 5 promises fireworks. Who do you think closes it out? 🏀🔥