The Meralco Bolts and the TNT Tropang 5G will have the fourth installment of their semifinals series to end the week. Will the Bolts tie it all up with another win? Or, will the Tropang 5G come just a victory away from the PBA Finals?

Catch this game live on Sunday,  January 11, 2026 at 7:30 pm, Manila time.

Meralco Bolts (1-2)

Projected Starting Five:

  • Chris Banchero
  • Cliff Hodge
  • C.J. Cansino
  • Kier Quinto
  • Brandon Bates

Meralco did not let the Tropang 5G strike three games in a row, as the Bolts earned a 97-89 win in Game 3 of the series on Wednesday. That victory puts the Bolts in line to level the series with a win this Sunday, but they may have to do so without their best player. Chris Newsome led Meralco in Gam 3 with 17 points to go along with five assists and four rebounds, but he suffered a knee injury late in the fourth quarter. 

With a short turnaround, it is perhaps fair to expect Newsome to sit out this Sunday’s contest — or at least be in less than 100% form if he somehow finds a way to suit up and take the floor. Meralco may have to lean more on C.J. Cansino this Sunday, given what has happened to Newsome. Cansino had 18 points on 7/8 shooting, including three 3-pointers in Game 3. In any case, the Bolts, for the first time in this series, have momentum going into a game.

TNT Tropang 5G (2-1)

Projected Starting Five:

  • Kelly Williams
  • Jordan Heading
  • Brandon Rosser
  • Jio Jalalon
  • Calvin John Oftana

The Tropang 5G finally cooled off. Before their Game 3 loss, they wer on a six-game winning streak, dating back to the elimination phase of the conference. Despite the loss, TNT has control of the series and will look to rebound from Friday’s loss. Jordan Heading must be eager to get back on the court after a dud in Game 3, as he bricked all of his seven attempts from the field for zero points in the entire contest. 

Calvin Oftana also struggled with his shot, going just 1/7 from the floor before finishing with just six points.  It was just not a great night for two of TNT’s top gunners, but Heading and Oftana should continue to be viewed as major threats to the Bolts. Even after posting just a 45.5 eFG% on Friday, TNT is the kind of team with scary firepower that can easily bounce back from a putrid shooting night.

Picks

Spread: TNT Tropang 5G (-5.5)
Over/Under: Under (Over)