Bolts find themselves refreshed for challenges ahead
Meralco came painfully close to a Final Four spot in the East Asia Super League (EASL) last season—despite a battered, overused roster.
This October, the Bolts return recharged and carrying the full weight of PBA representation.
There’s no firm decision yet on imports or picks for the upcoming PBA Draft, but coach Luigi Trillo is counting on one key upgrade: a healthier, better-rested lineup.
“We’ve got good news—Allein [Maliksi] is coming back to team practice soon,” Trillo said. “And these two months off have been great for Cliff [Hodge], CB [Chris Banchero], and Bong [Quinto]. They needed to refresh.”
Maliksi missed most of last season due to a back injury. Meanwhile, Hodge, Banchero and Quinto carried the load through three consecutive leagues: PBA, EASL and Basketball Champions League. The Bolts exited all three short of the semifinals, but the break has breathed life into the team.
This time, Meralco has a rare window—a full month to prepare before EASL tips off. That alone puts them in a better place.
Not everyone is resting, though. Chris Newsome is currently in Jeddah with Gilas Pilipinas for the FIBA Asia Cup qualifiers, where he logged three points and three assists in the 95–87 loss to Chinese Taipei. He’ll remain with the national team until mid-August, juggling duties as one of Gilas’ most reliable veterans.
“Chris is like Superman for us,” said Trillo. “But he’s older now, and he has to manage his mileage. Still, he lives for this. He thrives in these situations.”
Newsome, 35, continues to defy age and workload. The former Finals MVP has long been the Bolts’ emotional anchor, a player who sets the tone both on and off the court.
Trillo also revealed the team’s morale dipped after last season’s double-overtime EASL loss to New Taipei, 109–96—a game they felt they had in hand.
“[The players] really fought. There was a lot of disappointment in the locker room,” he said. “It could’ve gone either way. We deserved to win that.”
Had they pulled it off, Meralco would’ve earned a semifinal ticket to Macau. Instead, they bowed out despite strong efforts from DJ Kennedy and Newsome, who scored 21 and 17 points, respectively. Kennedy’s return remains uncertain, but Trillo is focused on the lessons learned.
