Meralco Bolts Sign Akil Mitchell As New Import

The Meralco Bolts have signed forward Akil Mitchell as their new import player, the team announced Monday on Instagram. According to Bolts’ General Manager Paolo Trillo, Mitchell is scheduled to play in their upcoming East Asia Super League game on Wednesday.

Standing 6-foot-9, Mitchell is a dynamic two-way wing. The North Carolina native was a four-year player at the University of Virginia before going undrafted in the 2014 NBA Draft. Mitchell began his professional career in the D-League with the NBA’s Houston Rockets affiliate, the Rio Grande Valley Vipers, during the 2014-15 campaign. Since then, he’s become an overseas journeyman, spending time in Greece, New Zealand, China, Israel, and more before landing in the Philippines. Playing with Meralco offers Mitchell his first taste of PBA action.

Over the years, Mitchell has accumulated various accolades, including being named to the 2023 All-Champions League First Team and All-Champions League Defensive Team with Greek side AEK Athens. Most recently, Mitchell won the 2024 BSN Championship with Puerto Rico’s Criollos de Caguas.

Mitchell’s arrival comes at a pivotal time for the Bolts, giving the team some much-needed frontcourt depth after losing Allen Durham following the PBA’s 2024 Governors’ Cup. Durham, who joined Meralco this past offseason from the B.LEAGUE’s Ryukyu Golden Kings, performed well in EASL play, averaging 17.5 points, 10 rebounds, and 4.5 assists over two contests.

Mitchell last played for the Qingdao Eagles in the North Division of China PRC’s CBA. Across the 2024-25 season so far, Mitchell has averaged 6.5 points and 9.7 rebounds over 10 appearances.

On Wednesday evening, Meralco takes on the KBL's Busan KCC Egis at Manila’s PhilSports Arena. The Bolts are currently 1-1 in Group B and sit in third place in their group.