The Meralco Bolts squandered a double-digit advantage but got huge contributions from CJ Cansino in the end game for a 78-76 win over the Magnolia Chicken Timplados Hotshots on Sunday night, October 19, at the Ynares Center in Montalban.

Cansino fired 23 points and grabbed six rebounds while making clutch plays down the stretch to power the Bolts to their third straight win of the PBA Season 50 Philippine Cup.

Aaron Black added 17 points and Bong Quinto scored 11 for Meralco, which is now 3-2 in the conference.

Meralco held Magnolia to just seven points in the opening period and led by as many as 18 points in the second quarter, but the Hotshots crawled their way back in the contest behind Jerom Lastimosa and Zav Lucero.

Magnolia snatched a 72-69 lead after a Lucero triple with 41 seconds left, but Cansino banked in a floater on Meralco’s next possession to put the Bolts back in control, 73-72, with 31 seconds to go.

The former University of the Philippines standout then stopped Lastimosa on a drive, forcing the Hotshots to turn the rest of the game into a free throw shooting contest.

But a missed charity by Quinto with 8.9 seconds to go left the door open for Magnolia, 78-76.

Unfortunately for the Hotshots, Lastimosa misfired on what could have been a game-winning three-pointer as time expired.

Lastimosa finished with 22 points while Lucero had 14 points and six boards in a losing effort.

The Hotshots fell to 2-1 in the conference. (ABS-CBN News)

MERALCO 78 — Cansino 23, Black 17, Quinto 11, Bates 7, Hodge 7, Newsome 6, Banchero 3, Almazan 2, Pascual 2, Maliksi 0.

MAGNOLIA 76 — Lastimosa 22, Lucero 14, Barroca 11, Escoto 11, Gomez de Liaño 5, Laput 4, Sangalang 4, Dela Rosa 3, Lee 2, Alfaro 0, Dionisio 0.

Quarterscores: 20-7, 32-25, 53-51, 78-76.