MERALCO and NLEX square off in a game between two teams that are locked at second place in the team standings of the PBA 50th Season Commissioner's Cup. Phoenix Super LPG and Blackwater also battle as struggling teams look to finish off their losing slide.
How to watch Meralco vs. NLEX
- Time: 5:15 p.m. PT
- Location: Ynares Center-Montalban
- TV: One Sports
- Streaming: Amazon Prime Video
Phoenix Super LPG and Blackwater will try to end their losing streak when they lock horns on Friday. The Fuelmasters (3-3) are on a two-game losing skid following a 109-96 defeat to Barangay Ginebra last Sunday. The Bossing (1-5) have lost three straight games, the last a 99-94 defeat at the hands of TNT last Tuesday.
Blackwater entered a new era after Pat Aquino was elevated to interim head coach replacing Jeff Cariaso. The Bossing played a competitive game against defending champion TNT where they kept the match close until the end.
It looks like Dalph Panopio will play a vital part in the rotation of Pat Aquino having been given more minutes in his first game as head coach. The Season 50 No. 3 draft pick had 17 points, nine rebounds, four assists, and two steals against TNT – one of his best games in his young PBA career.
Meralco Bolts
Meralco Bolts head into the contest with a 115-110 victory against Macau Black Bears. The hosts extended their winning streak to three matches. Meanwhile, their victory came on the road. The Bolts dropped only one game in the 2026 PBA Commissioner’s Cup. Meralco’s only defeat came against the competition’s best side, Rain or Shine. With six more games to go, they are likely to grab the playoffs ticket.
The Bolts have played three home games in the ongoing competition and lost one of them. The hosts posted a 6-5 record in the PBA Philippines Cup. They finished seventh in the Cup and qualified for the playoffs. However, they were knocked out in the semifinals against the TNT 1-4. They overcame Rain or Shine in the opening round.
Meralco are 5-1 in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup and they are on the verge of getting into the playoffs. The Bolts will play six more games and they need at least two wins to crack the playoffs. Alec Stockton could be an offensive threat in this fixture. The 27-year-old guard averaged 14.6 points in the regular season. We back him to score 15 or more points in the upcoming fixture against NLEX.
NLEX Road Warriors
NLEX Road Warriors have produced the same script in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup. Like Meralco, they also dropped just one game so far in the competition and their only loss came against TNT, who were the runners-up in the Philippines Cup. The hosts are coming off a 106-97 victory against the Macau Black Bears. They have posted a 5-1 record in the Commissioner’s Cup.
The Road Warriors will take on Meralco in the upcoming game. Both teams have one defeat out of six games so it would be a great matchup. The visitors finished 8th in the PBA Philippines Cup and faced elimination in the opening round against the eventual winners, San Miguel. They posted a 6-5 record in the Philippines Cup. They are currently standing 3rd in the Commissioners’ Cup with a 5-1 record.
If they manage at least three wins in the remaining cycle, they can confirm the playoffs. NLEX are 2-0 on the road during the ongoing competition. Their last defeat came on the road during the PBA playoffs. They will play three home and four away games in the remaining games. If we pick out an offensive threat for the upcoming game, Cady Lalanne is right up there. The 33-year-old averaged 26.0 points in the ongoing season. We back him to score 15 or more points in the upcoming game.
