The Bolts are showing they are all charged up to catch the bus to the playoffs.

Languishing at the bottom of the standings in the first few weeks, Meralco has now flipped the switch and won three straight games as Raymond Almazan delivered the killing blows to take down TNT, 97-91, in the 2022 PBA Commissioner’s Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Wednesday, Nov. 16.

After trailing by as many as 11 points in the first half, the Bolts came alive in the final two quarters with the lanky big man taking charge in the final frame when he dropped 13 of his 21 points including the sweeping hook that proved to be the dagger against the Tropang Giga with only 31 seconds left in the contest.

Almazan also collected 11 rebounds and four blocks as he played perfect music together with import KJ McDaniels who remained undefeated ever since he took the spot of Meralco’s original import choice Johnny O’Bryant.

McDaniels posted 26 points and 15 rebounds while Aaron Black also contributed a double-double of his own 17 points and 11 boards as the Bolts outrebounded the Tropang Giga, 64-45.

Head coach Norman Black was elated with the defense his charges put up in the second half as they were able to tighten up their screws and limit TNT’s offense which was anchored on import Cameron Oliver and prolific guard Mikey Williams in the first two quarters.

“Their import shot the ball well in the first half and that opened up the floor for them as he was able to dish out (the ball) for some three-point shots. We basically stayed with the same game plan we had to start the game. We didn’t really change much in the half time,” said Black.

"We just wanted to play a little bit better, be a little more intense on defense so we just kinda like tightened the screws defensively in the second half,” he added.

Meralco, indeed, took its defense a notch higher in the final two quarters as Oliver, who dropped 19 in the first half, could only muster six points the rest of the way to finish with 25. Williams, likewise, after scoring 15 before the break, was limited to just five to end up with 20 points.

Jayson Castro, on the other hand, tried to carry the fight for the Tropang Giga, dropping 13 of his 19 in the second half but was not enough to put a stop to the surging Meralco which now caught TNT on equal footing in the standing with identical 4-5 records, all thanks to the late explosion from Almazan.

The 6-foot-8 center traded baskets with the Tropang Giga to preserve the Bolts’ four point lead, 90-86, with five minutes left in the contest. Williams drilled a crucial jumper but was answered by the Bolts first on a floater before Almazan split his charities and scored on a hook shot to establish the much needed breathing space for Meralco, 95-88, with less than a minute in change.