10 Teams, 10 Days: Meralco Bolts

10 Teams In 10 Days: Meralco Bolts

Our East Asia Super League editorial staff breaks down the key storylines, players and statistics of each franchise as tip-off nears.

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Meralco Bolts

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Meralco competes in its second straight East Asia Super League (EASL) season starting on Oct. 2, when the Bolts take on the Macau Black Bears at Manila’s SM Mall of Asia Arena. Despite missing out on a Final Four spot during the EASL’s inaugural season, Meralco picked up a surprise win 97-88 win over the Ryukyu Golden Kings — the 2023 B.LEAGUE champions.

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But the Bolts’ shortcomings in EASL shouldn’t overshadow their domestic accomplishments in 2023-24. In the 2024 PBA Philippine Cup, Meralco took down long-time rivals San Miguel Beermen to win its first-ever PBA championship.

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Here’s everything you need to know about the Meralco Bolts:

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3-Pointers

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1. Making History

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Entering the 2024 Philippine Cup as the No. 3 seed — holding a 6-5 record — Meralco swept quarterfinal opponents, the NLEX Road Warriors, 2-0. 

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Facing Barangay Ginebra San Miguel with a Finals berth at stake, the Bolts faced a 3-2 series deficit but strung together consecutive wins to set up a matchup with the San Miguel Beermen. 

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Although San Miguel started the championship series as heavy favorites, Meralco took Games 1 and 2 by a combined 11 points. But each time the Bolts went up, the Beermen answered. Knotted at 2-2, Meralco overcame a 38-point explosion from San Miguel’s star big man June Mar Fajardo to win Game 5. Then, a dominant first quarter Meralco in the sixth and final contest gave the Bolts their first PBA championship in franchise history. 

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“Meralco, this is for you,” Finals MVP Chris Newsome said postgame as celebratory confetti fell from the rafters. “Anybody who has ever bought or worn a jersey, this is for you. We’ve been on this vision for a long time and I appreciate all of you.”

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2. Big Ange

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Ange Kouame — a 6-foot-11 big — will play for Meralco as a naturalized player in the 2024-25 season. Though Kouame grew up in the Philippines he was recognized as an import until now.

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Kouame’s naturalization with Meralco draws similarities to standout center Alex Kirk’s situation with fellow EASL team, Japan’s Ryukyu Golden Kings. Kirk, who obtained Japanese citizenship at the beginning of the season, is now Ryukyu’s newest naturalized addition. For most teams in East Asia, this process makes space for an extra import player — a very valuable asset.

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Kouame spent his college years in the Philippines — at national powerhouse Ateneo University — and blossomed into a star. In four seasons, he was a three-time UAAP champion, a UAAP Most Valuable Player in 2021 and the league’s Finals MVP in 2022. Kouame joins the Bolts from French third-division team UB Chartres Métropole and is expected to fill a much-needed void for Meralco in the frontcourt.

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3. Rivalry with Ryukyu

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In last season’s EASL tournament, Meralco and Ryukyu squared off twice in the group stage. The first contest was a blowout as the Golden Kings defeated the Bolts 89-61, but Meralco rebounded to take the second — 97-88.

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Trailing 80-76 with 15 seconds remaining, Newsome drilled a right-corner 3 while being fouled by Ryukyu guard Shota Onadera. He completed the four-point play to knot affairs at 80-80 and force overtime. Then, in the extra period, Newsome iced the game with a step-back elbow jumper to give Meralco a 90-83 advantage.

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This year, the two teams will meet again in Group B. Their first showdown is set for Oct. 16 on Ryukyu’s home floor.

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Players To Watch 

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1. Chris Newsome

Selected by Meralco as the 4th overall pick in the 2015 PBA Draft, Newsome has never left. The two-time PBA All-Star led the Bolts to their first-ever PBA championship in June and was named Finals MVP. 

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In 2023-24, Newsome averaged career-highs of 16.2 points per game and 86.2% from the free throw line. The 6-foot-2 guard also represented the Philippines in the 2022 Asian Games, helping his country win its first Asian Games gold medal in 61 years. 

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2. Cliff Hodge

Cliff Hodge — like Newsome — is a life-long Meralco Bolt. Since joining the franchise in 2012, Hodge has been a three-time PBA All-Defensive Team selection and a two-time PBA Mythical Second Team honoree. He is also the PBA’s reigning Defensive Player of the Year. 

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This past season, Hodge tallied 9.5 points per game and a career-high 2.3 assists. 

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3. Allen Durham

Allen Durham — nicknamed ‘The Hulk’ — heads into his third stint with Meralco in 2024-25. Durham was previously with the Bolts for the 2016 PBA Governors Cup before returning for the 2019-20 campaign. 

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A former B.LEAGUE champion and Finals MVP with Ryukyu in 2023, Durham’s history with the Golden Kings adds to their rivalry with Meralco. The 6-foot-6 power forward notched 11.9 points in 28.8 minutes per game for Ryukyu last season and played there from 2021-2024. 

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Meralco By The Numbers

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Meralco’s 2023-24 EASL Season 

• Group stage record: 1-5
• Nov. 15, 2023 — 89-61 loss against Ryukyu Golden Kings (B.LEAGUE)
• Nov. 29, 2023 — 97-92 loss against New Taipei Kings (P. LEAGUE+)
• Nov. 13, 2023 — 97-88 win over Ryukyu Golden Kings (B.LEAGUE)
• Dec. 27, 2023 — 81-80 loss against Seoul SK Knights (KBL)
• Jan. 3, 2024 — 89-77 loss against New Taipei Kings (P. LEAGUE+)
• Feb. 7, 2024 — 72-62 loss against Seoul SK Knights (KBL)

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Meralco’s 2023-24 EASL Statistic Leaders

• Points: Chris Newsome – 16.8 ppg
• Rebounds: Prince Ibeh – 9.0 rpg
• Assists: Chris Newsome – 3.8 apg
• Steals: Chris Newsome – 2.0 spg
• Blocks: Prince Ibeh – 2.8 bpg

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Meralco’s 2023-24 PBA Season — 2024 PBA Philippine Cup Champions 

• Elimination round record: 6-5 
• Finished 3rd in Elimination round 
• Defeated NLEX Road Warriors (2-0), Barangay Ginebra San Miguel (4-3) and the San Miguel Beermen (4-2) to win the 2024 Philippine Cup Championship

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Meralco’s 2023-24 PBA Statistic Leaders

• Points: Chris Newsome — 15.4 ppg 
• Rebounds: Cliff Hodge — 8.4 rpg
• Assists: Chris Newsome — 4.7 apg 
• Steals: Cliff Hodge — 1.6 spg 
• Blocks: Cliff Hodge — 1.4 bpg

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Team Schedule

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