PBA Commissioner's Cup: Terrafirma, Meralco Strike Early as Standings Start to Take Shape
by Devesh Jaganath | by Cydias Aujard
Fast starts set the tone for 2026 Commissioner's Cup season
We are into the third week of the 2026 PBA Commissioner's Cup, and Terrafirma have set their stall out early as the team to catch, as they lead the standings with a perfect 3-0 record built on efficient offence and composed late-game execution.
After beating Titan Ultra 112-82 and Converge 111-100, the Dyip notched up their third win of the season and confirmed our PBA Commissioner's Cup predictions by defeating Blackwater Bossing 99-88 at the Ynares Center on Wednesday. This is Terrafirma’s best start to a season since going 4-0 in the Governors Cup back in 2016.
Meralco Bolts are in second place and kept their unbeaten record intact by handing Phoenix Super LPG their first loss of the campaign, 93-86 on Saturday, while Barangay Ginebra kicked off their season on a high note, cruising to a 110-93 over the Black Knights, who dropped to 0-3.
Arguably, the best performance across the opening weeks came from Rain or Shine on Friday at the Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City, where they survived a Jaylen Johnson ejection and a massive performance from Bol Bol to fend off TNT, 112-109, and maintain their flawless start to the campaign (2-0).
Jerrick Ahanmisi leads Terrafirma to hot start in 2026 season
While several teams in this year’s PBA Commissioner's Cup have relied heavily on imports to lead the way, Terrafirma are getting more balanced contributions from local players, with Jerrick Ahanmisi being the standout performer for the Dyip across the opening weeks.
The 28-year-old shooting guard was announced as the first Player of the Week this season, thanks to his excellent performances in his opening two games, where the team defeated Titan Ultra Giant Risers and stunned the Converge FibreXers in overtime.
Ahanmisi averaged 20.0 points, 1.5 rebounds, 6.0 assists and 2.5 steals in his first two matches, before putting up 18.0 points, on 6-of-11 shooting, including two four-point conversions in the victory over Blackwater on Wednesday in Antipolo.
Other contenders for the Player of the Week honour included NLEX’s Robert Bolick and Phoenix’s duo of Ricci Rivero and Evan Nelle, after their teams won their first two games. Ahanmisi’s selection comes off the back of an incredible PBA All-Star weekend, where he became the first player to win two skill events.
LA Tenorio tells team to “Trust the Process” amid slow start
The biggest disappointment of the early season has been the performances of the Magnolia Hotshots, who have yet to get into the win column. Despite this, after their third consecutive loss on Sunday, head coach LA Tenorio delivered a straightforward message to his team: “Trust the Process!”
The Hotshots slipped to 0-3 in the 2026 PBA Commissioner's Cup after letting an 11-point advantage slip away in their 97-91 defeat to Blackwater - marking their first loss to the Bossing since the 2021 Governors’ Cup. Still, Tenorio stressed that persistence and a positive outlook will eventually pay off.
Magnolia’s current lineup features several up-and-coming players stepping into bigger roles, including the likes of Zavier Lucero and Jerom Lastimosa. Tenorio noted in a recent media interview that the team is still in a developmental phase, adjusting both on and off the court.
While he praised the effort shown by his team in practice, Tenorio emphasised the need to carry the same intensity into actual games, while also pointing out that growth on the mental aspect of the game will be just as important as his young roster continues to find its footing in the tournament.
