DUBAI (United Arab Emirates) - Expect Meralco to come into the Basketball Champions League Asia (BCL Asia) 2025 with a chip on their shoulder after falling short of a podium finish some six years ago.
Qualifying path
The Bolts are back in Asia's highest club competition following a success of historic proportions during the 2023-24 Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) season - something they hope to emulate in Dubai.
After settling for heartbreaking runner-up finishes multiple times, the team finally struck that elusive championship by beating the San Miguel Beermen in six games to clinch the 2024 Philippine Cup crown.
The Game 6 clincher was one for the ages, too, with star guard Chris Newsome knocking down the eventual game-winner with a tough fallaway jumper from the baseline in the dying seconds for the 80-78 victory.
So sweet was that triumph for Meralco as it was their first-ever taste of gold since joining the league in 2010 when they acquired an old PBA franchise, before gradually rising as a perennial contender.
BCL Asia history
Fast forward to now and the Bolts are the reigning Philippine Cup champions. But uneasy is the head that wears the crown, as they say, for it entails even more responsibility being such.
Aside from defending their throne, Meralco are tasked to carry the fight for the PBA in BCL Asia, although they may no longer need any extra push as the upcoming campaign is a bit personal for them.
It could be recalled that the club was tapped to represent the league and the Philippines in 2018 in Nonthaburi, Thailand, when the tournament was known as the FIBA Asia Champions Cup.
They managed to reach the Semi-Finals, but dropped a close one against eventual champions Petrochimi of Iran. They ultimately finished fourth after bowing to the Seoul SK Knights in the Third-Place Game.
Had they won even just the battle for bronze, that in itself is already a feat as the country has never won a medal in the competition since 1996 when Hapee Toothpaste won the whole thing in Manila.
Can the Bolts get one?
Players to watch
As mentioned above, Newsome hit the game-winner and that's because he has long been the face of Meralco. He actually won Finals MVP in that series behind norms of 22.5 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 4.5 assists.
For sure, the Gilas Pilipinas guard is going to lead the way again in the 'City of Gold' but he's bringing with him a pretty solid squad, including the veteran big men tandem of Raymond Almazan and Cliff Hodge.
Some Asian basketball fans may recognize Almazan and that's because he was once part of the Philippine men's team, having competed in the FIBA Asia Cup 2017 and in the FIBA Basketball World Cup two years later.
Then there's also guard Chris Banchero and Bong Quinto, pieces that were also integral in giving the Bolts their maiden PBA championship - and are surely expected to deliver the goods in BCL Asia.
It's also worth noting that these players have gained some valuable experience from playing in the past two EASL home-and-away seasons, and that's why it won't be wise for the others to take this squad lightly.
FIBA