The Meralco Bolts[1][2] is a professional basketball team of the Philippine Basketball Association founded in 2010 when the Manila Electric Company bought the Sta. Lucia Realtors' franchise.[3]
Their current and first head coach is Ryan Gregorio.[4]
History [edit]
Meralco Reddy Kilowatts [edit]
In the late 1960s, Meralco was one of the pioneer members of the defunct Manila Industrial and Commercial Athletic Association (MICAA), the premier amateur league of that time. Known as the Reddy Kilowatts, their roster then included future PBA Hall of Famers Robert Jaworski and Francis Arnaiz among other notable professional cagers.
The team was disbanded in 1972 during the aftermath of the lifetime suspensions given to Robert Jaworski and Alberto "Big Boy" Reynoso. The former and the latter beat up the referees during a match against the Crispa Floro Redmanizers during the 1972 MICAA All-Filipino Cup.
After their disbandment, its players were dispersed in 1973 to different teams. Jaworski, Reynoso (after their lifetime suspension was lifted later that year) and Arnaiz later joined the Komatsu Comets. Eventually, most of the players of the original Meralco franchise were reunited at the Komatsu team (later renamed Toyota Comets) and together, with eight other MICAA teams, founded the Philippine Basketball Association.
Sale of Sta. Lucia franchise [edit]
On June 2010, there were reports that Meralco expressed interest in joining the PBA and intended to buy either Sta. Lucia's or Barako Bull's franchise after both teams unloaded most of their major players.[5] After Barako Bull informed the board that they intended to stay with the league for the 2010-11 season, Sta. Lucia then filed a "leave of absence."[6] On August 10, the PBA board finally approved the sale of the Sta. Lucia franchise to Meralco.
1st Season in the PBA [edit]
The Meralco Bolts entered the 2010-11 season with a lineup that included Mark Cardona, Asi Taulava, Nelbert Omolon, Marlou Aquino, Beau Belga, Dennis Daa, Chris Ross, Ogie Menor, Pong Escobal and Chris Pacana. Shawn Weinstein, Ford Arao, Khasim Mirza and Bam-bam Gamalinda were the first players to be drafted by the franchise. They started the Philippine Cup with a win against the crowd favorites Barangay Ginebra Kings. In the middle of the conference, they traded some of their players in exchange for Hans Thiele, Mark Isip and Reed Juntilla respectively. They compiled a 7-7 record which was enough to take them to the quarterfinals. However, they lost to the B-Meg Derby Ace Llamados 2-0. Before the Commissioner's Cup, they made a huge trade by acquiring Solomon Mercado along with Paolo Bugia and Erick Rodriguez. They also signed 3-point shooter Renren Ritualo. Despite a revamped roster and imports Anthony Dandridge and Chamberlain Oguchi, they did not past the eliminations after having a 3-6 record. The same happened during the Governors Cup when they had a 3-5 record.
2011-12 season: Buffing up [edit]
Meralco overhauled immensely during the offseason, releasing Renren Ritualo, Hans Thiele, Reed Juntilla and Paolo Bugia, as well as acquiring through trades Mark Yee, Mark Macapagal, Chico Lanete, Chris Timberlake and signing free agents Mark Borboran and Bryan Faundo. During the 2011 PBA Draft, Meralco selected Gilas reserve Jason Ballesteros, as well as Gilbert Bulawan to augment their frontline. In the 2011-12 PBA Philippine Cup, they finished at 6th place at 8-6 win-loss record but swept by the Petron Blaze Boosters. In the 2012 PBA Commissioner's Cup, they finished at another sixth place at 4-5 on that 102-98 upset win over Powerade Tigers but in another miss to the semifinals for the Bolts. In the 2012 PBA Governors Cup, they finished three straight sixth places in their franchise. In the knockout game for the last semis berth, they defeated the Powerade Tigers, 94-86 to advance to their first semifinals appearance in their franchise history.
2012-13 season [edit]
Ramon Segismundo announced the team's jersey will be changed with similarities with the one worn by MICAA Reddy Kilowatts team for the 2012-13 season.[7]
Current roster [edit]
|
|
| Players |
Coaches |
| Pos. |
# |
POB |
Name |
Ht. |
Wt. |
|
College |
| 5.5 !F/C |
4 |
PHI ! |
Reyes, Jay-R |
80 !6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) |
215 lb (98 kg) |
|
UP Diliman |
| 1.0 !PG |
6 |
USA ! |
Ross, Chris (C) |
73 !6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) |
180 lb (82 kg) |
|
Marshall University |
| 4.0 !F |
7 |
USA ! |
Hodge, Cliff (R) |
77 !6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) |
195 lb (88 kg) |
|
Hawaii Pacific |
| 1.5 !G |
8 |
PHI ! |
Buenafe, Ronjay |
72.5 !6 ft 0.5 in (1.84 m) |
200 lb (91 kg) |
|
EAC |
| 1.0 !PG |
11 |
PHI ! |
Artadi, Paul |
69 !5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) |
155 lb (70 kg) |
|
UE |
| 1.5 !G |
13 |
USA ! |
Timberlake, Chris |
70 !5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) |
182 lb (83 kg) |
|
North Florida |
| 2.0 !SG |
14 |
PHI ! |
Cardona, Mark |
73 !6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) |
180 lb (82 kg) |
|
De La Salle |
| 5.5 !F/C |
15 |
PHI ! |
Bulawan, Gilbert |
76 !6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) |
195 lb (88 kg) |
|
San Sebastian |
| 4.0 !F |
16 |
PHI ! |
Borboran, Mark |
76 !6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) |
185 lb (84 kg) |
|
UE |
| 3.0 !SF |
17 |
PHI ! |
Guevarra, Rey |
75 !6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) |
175 lb (79 kg) |
|
Letran |
| 4.0 !F |
21 |
PHI ! |
Hugnatan, Reynel |
76 !6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) |
210 lb (95 kg) |
|
UM |
| 2.5 !G/F |
22 |
USA ! |
Vanlandingham, Josh |
76 !6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) |
205 lb (93 kg) |
|
Pacific Lutheran |
| 5.5 !F/C |
24 |
PHI ! |
Manuel, Vic (R) |
77 !6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) |
200 lb (91 kg) |
|
PSBA |
| 5.5 !F/C |
34 |
PHI ! |
Sharma, Carlo |
78 !6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) |
220 lb (100 kg) |
|
De La Salle |
| 4.5 !PF |
35 |
USA ! |
Dawson, Eric (I) |
81 !6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) |
250 lb (113 kg) |
|
Midwestern State |
| 4.0 !F |
80 |
PHI ! |
Salvacion, Sunday |
75 !6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) |
190 lb (86 kg) |
|
CSB |
|
- Head coach
- Assistant coach(es)
- Team manager
- Legend
- (C) Team captain
- (I) Import
- (DP) Unsigned draft pick
- (FA) Free agent
- (IN) Inactive
- (S) Suspended
 Injured- * High school
Roster
|
|
Depth Chart [edit]
| Pos. |
Starting 5 |
Bench 1 |
Bench 2 |
Bench 3 |
| C |
Eric Dawson |
Jay-R Reyes |
Carlo Sharma |
|
| PF |
Cliff Hodge |
Reynel Hugnatan |
Vic Manuel |
Gilbert Bulawan |
| SF |
Sunday Salvacion |
Rey Guevarrra |
Mark Borboran |
|
| SG |
Mark Cardona |
Ronjay Buenafe |
Josh Vanlandingham |
|
| PG |
Chris Ross |
Paul Artadi |
|
|
Inactive [edit]
| Pos |
Name |
| G |
Chris Timberlake |
Head Coaches [edit]
| Meralco Bolts head coaches |
2010s
| Name |
Start |
End |
Seasons |
Overall Record |
Best finish |
| W |
L |
PCT |
G |
| Ryan Gregorio |
2010 |
Incumbent |
2 |
33 |
43 |
.434 |
76 |
Semifinals |
|
Season-by-season records [edit]
- Records from the 2011–12 PBA season:
| Conf. |
Team name |
Elimination round |
Playoffs |
| Finish |
W |
L |
PCT |
Stage |
Results |
| PHI |
Meralco Bolts |
6th/10 |
8 |
6 |
.571 |
Quarterfinals |
Petron 2, Meralco 0 |
| COM |
6th/10 |
4 |
5 |
.444 |
Quarterfinals |
B-Meg 2, Meralco 1 |
| GOV |
6th/10 |
4 |
5 |
.444 |
2nd elim. playoff
Semifinals |
Meralco 94, Powerade 86*
6th overall (6–8), 2–3 in semifinals |
| Total elimination round |
16 |
16 |
.500 |
1 semifinal appearances |
| Total playoffs |
4 |
7 |
.364 |
0 Finals appearances |
| Total 2011–12 |
20 |
23 |
.465 |
0 championships |
| Total franchise |
33 |
43 |
.434 |
0 championships |
*one-game playoffs
**team had the twice-to-beat advantage
Players of note [edit]
Other notable players [edit]
Imports [edit]
See also [edit]
References [edit]
- ^ Meralco-Ginebra game to open PBA’s 36th season, GMANews.TV, August 24, 2010.
- ^ Consumers won't pay for Bolts, Sporting Chance by Joaquin Henson, Philippine Star, August 26, 2010.
- ^ http://www.pba-online.net/post/meralco-makes-power-move--joins-pro-league.html
- ^ PBA welcomes MVP’s Meralco, Waylon Galvez, Manila Bulletin, August 10, 2010
- ^ Meralco eyes cage return via PBA next season, Rey Joble, GMANews.TV, June 24, 2010
- ^ Barako to compete anew; SLR bids goodbye Rey Joble, GMANews.TV, July 13, 2010
- ^ [1] Rey Joble, InterAKTV, September 22, 2012
External links [edit]
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Meralco Bolts current roster
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Meralco Bolts
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| The franchise |
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| Administration |
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| Coaches |
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| Seasons (3) |
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Ryan Gregorio
