Romwel Anzures

Meralco Bolts head coach Luigi Trillo against the TNT Tropang 5G in Game 4 of the PBA Season 50 Philippine Cup semifinals. Photo from PBA Images.

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<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1768211880395IMG_9656.jpeg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Meralco Bolts head coach Luigi Trillo against the TNT Tropang 5G in Game 4 of the PBA Season 50 Philippine Cup semifinals. <em>Photo from PBA Images.</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — Luigi Trillo knows the Meralco Bolts now have their backs against the wall after falling behind with three defeats in the first four games of the PBA Season 50 Philippine Cup semifinals, but he remains confident in his team’s ability to respond.</p><p>The Meralco head coach acknowledged their struggles in Game 4 on Sunday which resulted in an 83-102 loss to the TNT Tropang 5G, admitting that their performance fell short of their standards.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/basketball/2026/1/11/pba-tnt-overwhelms-meralco-on-cusp-of-all-filipino-finals-return-2203">READ: TNT overwhelms Meralco, on cusp of All-Filipino Finals return</a></div><p>“This game was not Meralco basketball. They outperformed us in every quarter,” said Trillo, whose squad trailed by as much as 24 points.</p><p>The Bolts struggled on both ends of the floor. Defensively, they allowed the Beermen to score 40 perimeter points and convert 12 of their 31 three-point attempts. On offense, Meralco managed just 1-of-12 shooting from beyond the arc.</p><p>While Trillo offered no excuses, he cited fatigue as a contributing factor.</p><p>“We just didn’t have the legs. This was our third game in five days, and we just didn’t lock in,” said Trillo, who also missed the services of mainstay Chris Newsome due to a left MCL sprain.</p><p>Fortunately for the Bolts, they will have two days to recover before Wednesday’s Game 5, but something else adds to Trillo’s optimism: Meralco’s sustained resilience.</p><p>“We always thrive in games when our backs are against the wall. In past conferences, we didn’t start well, but we somehow won three to four straight games. We’re used to that,” he said.</p><p>This was evident in the elimination round of the ongoing All-Filipino conference. Meralco managed just three wins in its first seven games before closing the round strong by winning four of its final five assignments to advance to the playoffs.</p><p>The Bolts then upset the twice-to-beat Rain or Shine Elasto Painters in the quarterfinals to reach the semifinals, a run that gives Trillo hope they can rally once more.</p><p>“We’ll be better on Wednesday,” he said. “I believe we can do better; we just need to lock in.”</p><p>Game 5 tips off at 5:15 p.m. at the Araneta Coliseum in Cubao.<strong></strong></p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO:</strong> <script data-wid="auto" type="text/javascript" src="https://content.viralize.tv/display/?zid=AAFz8gWM8iRADsJr&amp;cid=ABvjKMshJHdWeIEM"></script></div>

<p>Trillo knows Meralco now has its back against the wall in the #PBA50 Philippine Cup semifinals, but he remains confident in his team’s ability to respond.</p>

Trillo knows Meralco now has its back against the wall in the #PBA50 Philippine Cup semifinals, but he remains confident in his team’s ability to respond.

PBA: Trillo confident Meralco will regain form in time for do-or-die Game 5

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PBA: Trillo confident Meralco will regain form in time for do-or-die Game 5

Rom Anzures,

ABS-CBN News

Published January 12, 2026 08:30 PM PHT

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Basketball

PBA

PBA Season 50

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PBA Season 50 Philippine Cup

PBA 50

PBA 50 Philippine Cup Semifinals

Meralco Bolts

TNT Tropang 5G

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