Meralco sticks to draft strategy: Pinpoint type, not player
The idea of playing abroad has left the 2025 PBA Draft open with just a month left before selection day.
That, plus the fact that Meralco is picking in the bottom half of the field, has given birth to a unique Bolts strategy: They’re not looking for a certain name. They are eyeing a certain type.
And coach Luigi Trillo and team consultant Nenad Vucinic already have that type in mind.
“I’ve been with Meralco going on 13 years and the highest pick we’ve had was New (Chris Newsome) at fourth. You have to land some diamonds in the rough,” Trillo told the Inquirer.
“Bong (Quinto) was a late pick, so was AB (Aaron Black). They’re diamonds in the rough. Right now, for us, we want to see what kind of draft it will be.”
Last year’s draft alone was proof that the Bolts don’t mind a duplication of players in a certain position.
Fresh off a Philippine Cup championship run last year, Meralco picked up State U product CJ Cansino.
The Cansino pick boggled some minds as, at the time, Meralco had an array of small forwards in Allein Maliksi, Bong Quinto, Jansen Rios and Raymar Jose, to name a few.
However, by Meralco’s design, Cansino thrived in his rookie year with the Bolts, even shining in the all-Filipino conference with averages of 10.17 points, 2.83 rebounds and 1.17 assists per game.
The State U product’s steady performance at Meralco in the past conference, however, isn’t a surprise for Trillo and the Bolts, who have used their draft strategy to mitigate their frequent draft position.
And this year, that position doesn’t look like it will change. The Bolts, who never missed the Playoffs in all three conferences, are projected to pick at No. 8 or lower.
Trillo isn’t stressing the situation, though. He’s been mining talent for a long time now and he has struck diamond multiple times.
