2025–26 Meralco Bolts season

2025–26 Meralco Bolts season
Head coachLuigi Trillo
General managerPaolo Trillo
GovernorsWilliam Pamintuan
Maria Luisa Alvendia (alternate)
OwnersManila Electric Company
(an MVP Group subsidiary)
Philippine Cup results
Record6–5
(54.5%)
Place7th
Playoff finishSemifinalist (lost to TNT, 1–4)
Commissioner's Cup results
Record0–0  
PlaceTBD
Playoff finishTBD
Governors' Cup results
Record0–0  
PlaceTBD
Playoff finishTBD
Meralco Bolts seasons

The 2025–26 Meralco Bolts season is the 15th season of the franchise in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA).

Key dates

  • September 7, 2025: The PBA season 50 draft was held at the SM Mall of Asia Music Hall in Pasay.[1]
  • September 26, 2025: The Meralco Bolts unveiled a new logo, which is a simplified version of their previous mark. The team's new dark uniforms were unveiled the same day, featuring a new black base with blue accents across the jersey.[2][3] A white version will be worn as the light uniform. Additionally, the 1971 Meralco Reddy Kilowatts jerseys, which were worn last season during the 50th anniversary games, will be added to the regular jersey rotation.[4]

Draft picks

Main article: PBA season 50 draft
Round Pick Player Position Place of birth College
1 7 Jason Brickman PG  United States LIU Brooklyn
2 19 Vince Magbuhos PF/C  Italy Adamson
3 31 Ethan Galang SG/SF  United States UE
4 42 Ladis Lepalam C  Philippines Benilde
5 52 Jeff Comia SG  Philippines New Era

Roster

Meralco Bolts roster
Players Coaches
Pos. # POB Name Height Weight DOB (YYYY–MM–DD) From
G 1 Aaron Black 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 180 lb (82 kg) 1996–12–03 Ateneo
C 3 Marvin Jones (CI) 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1993–12–29 Texas Southern
G 5 Jason Brickman (R) 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) 165 lb (75 kg) 1991–11–19 LIU Brooklyn
G 6 Chris Banchero 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 175 lb (79 kg) 1989–01–24 Seattle Pacific
F 7 Cliff Hodge 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 195 lb (88 kg) 1988–02–03 Hawaii Pacific
F 10 Javee Mocon 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 189 lb (86 kg) 1995–04–07 San Beda
G/F 11 Chris Newsome 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 1990–07–25 Ateneo
G 17 Anjo Caram 5 ft 7 in (1.70 m) 159 lb (72 kg) 1991–01–14 San Beda
F 19 Bong Quinto 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 1994–12–15 Letran
C 20 Raymond Almazan 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 194 lb (88 kg) 1989–08–02 Letran
F 22 Allein Maliksi 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 180 lb (82 kg) 1987–09–18 UST
F 24 Raymar Jose (IN) 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1992–08–06 Far Eastern
F 27 Jansen Rios 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 1991–10–28 Adamson
G 29 Jeff Comia (R / IN) 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) 1997–08–29 New Era
F/C 32 Kyle Pascual 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1990–04–13 San Beda
C 33 Brandon Bates 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 231 lb (105 kg) 1997–08–12 De La Salle
G 71 CJ Cansino 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 1999–10–27 Philippines
F/C 93 Vince Magbuhos (R) 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 1999–10–07 Adamson
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Team manager


Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (CI) Commissioner's Cup Import
  • (GI) Governors' Cup Import
  • (EI) EASL Import
  • (DP) Unsigned draft pick
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (IN) Inactive
  • (S) Suspended
  • (R) Rookie
  • Injured

Roster


Philippine Cup

Eliminations

Standings

Pos Team W L PCT GB Qualification
1 San Miguel Beermen 9 2 .818 — Twice-to-beat in the quarterfinals
2 Rain or Shine Elasto Painters 8 3 .727[a] 1
3 TNT Tropang 5G 8 3 .727[a] 1
4 Converge FiberXers 7 4 .636[b] 2
5 Barangay Ginebra San Miguel 7 4 .636[b] 2 Twice-to-win in the quarterfinals
6 Magnolia Chicken Timplados Hotshots 6 5 .545[c] 3
7 Meralco Bolts 6 5 .545[c] 3
8 NLEX Road Warriors 6 5 .545[c] 3
9 Titan Ultra Giant Risers 4 7 .364 5
10 Phoenix Fuel Masters 3 8 .273 6
11 Blackwater Bossing 1 10 .091[d] 8
12 Terrafirma Dyip 1 10 .091[d] 8
Source: PBA.ph
Rules for classification: 1) winning percentage; 2) head-to-head goal average (quotient); 3) head-to-head record; 4) overall quotient; 5) coin toss[5]
Notes:
  1. ^ a b Head-to-head record: Rain or Shine 1–0 TNT
  2. ^ a b Head-to-head record: Converge 1–0 Barangay Ginebra
  3. ^ a b c Head-to-head quotient: Magnolia 1.09, Meralco 0.99, NLEX 0.93
  4. ^ a b Head-to-head record: Blackwater 1–0 Terrafirma

Game log

2025–26 PBA Philippine Cup game log
Total: 6–5
October: 3–4
Game Date Opponent Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
1 October 8, 2025 Titan Ultra L 96–100 CJ Cansino (22) Brandon Bates (14) Aaron Black (6) Ynares Center Antipolo 0–1
2 October 11, 2025 Rain or Shine L 95–96 (OT) Cansino, Quinto (18) Cliff Hodge (16) Chris Banchero (7) Ynares Center Montalban 0–2
3 October 15, 2025 Blackwater W 105–96 Chris Newsome (22) Almazan, Hodge (8) Bong Quinto (7) Smart Araneta Coliseum 1–2
4 October 17, 2025 Barangay Ginebra W 89–75 Chris Newsome (19) Brandon Bates (14) Chris Newsome (4) Smart Araneta Coliseum 2–2
5 October 19, 2025 Magnolia W 78–76 CJ Cansino (23) Brandon Bates (15) Bong Quinto (3) Ynares Center Montalban 3–2
6 October 26, 2025 NLEX L 85–89 CJ Cansino (24) Cliff Hodge (17) Bong Quinto (8) Ynares Center Antipolo 3–3
7 October 29, 2025 TNT L 98–100 (OT) Chris Newsome (24) Cliff Hodge (10) Chris Newsome (6) Ynares Center Antipolo 3–4
December: 3–1
Game Date Opponent Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
8 December 10, 2025 Terrafirma W 120–87 CJ Cansino (20) Brandon Bates (16) Black, Quinto, Reyson (5) Ynares Center Antipolo 4–4
9 December 12, 2025 Phoenix W 88–78 CJ Cansino (22) Bong Quinto (8) Chris Banchero (5) Ninoy Aquino Stadium 5–4
10 December 14, 2025 Converge W 105–84 CJ Cansino (29) Aaron Black (8) Chris Banchero (6) Ynares Center Antipolo 6–4
11 December 19, 2025 San Miguel L 104–113 CJ Cansino (21) Bates, Quinto (9) Bong Quinto (6) Ninoy Aquino Stadium 6–5

Playoffs

Bracket

Quarterfinals
(Top 4 twice-to-beat)		Semifinals
(Best-of-7)		Finals
(Best-of-7)
1San Miguel101
8NLEX94
1San Miguel4
5Barangay Ginebra2
4Converge8598
5Barangay Ginebra10599*
1San Miguel4
3TNT2
2Rain or Shine7989
7Meralco9698
7Meralco1
3TNT4
3TNT 118
6Magnolia109

*Game went into overtime

Game log

2025–26 PBA Philippine Cup playoffs game log
Total: 3–4
Quarterfinals: 2–0
Game Date Opponent Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Series
1 December 27, 2025 Rain or Shine W 96–79 Cansino, Hodge, Newsome (14) CJ Cansino (8) Chris Banchero (6) Smart Araneta Coliseum 1–0
2 December 28, 2025 Rain or Shine W 98–89 Chris Newsome (31) Cliff Hodge (10) Chris Newsome (5) Smart Araneta Coliseum 2–0
Semifinals: 1–4
Game Date Opponent Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Series
1 January 4, 2026 TNT L 95–100 Chris Banchero (16) Aaron Black (6) Bong Quinto (7) Smart Araneta Coliseum 0–1
2 January 7, 2026 TNT L 92–109 Hodge, Newsome (18) Almazan, Hodge (7) Chris Newsome (4) Smart Araneta Coliseum 0–2
3 January 9, 2026 TNT W 97–89 Banchero, Cansino (18) Almazan, Quinto (8) Chris Newsome (5) Smart Araneta Coliseum 1–2
4 January 11, 2026 TNT L 83–102 Chris Banchero (19) Cliff Hodge (8) Bong Quinto (4) SM Mall of Asia Arena 1–3
5 January 14, 2026 TNT L 96–99 CJ Cansino (36) Cliff Hodge (14) Aaron Black (8) Smart Araneta Coliseum 1–4

Commissioner's Cup

Eliminations

Standings

Pos Team W L PCT GB Qualification
1 Terrafirma Dyip 3 0 1.000 — Twice-to-beat in the quarterfinals
2 Phoenix Super LPG Fuel Masters 2 0 1.000 0.5
3 NLEX Road Warriors 2 0 1.000 0.5
4 Rain or Shine Elasto Painters 2 0 1.000 0.5
5 Meralco Bolts 1 0 1.000 1 Twice-to-win in the quarterfinals
6 Barangay Ginebra San Miguel 1 0 1.000 1
7 San Miguel Beermen 0 0 — 1.5
8 Converge FiberXers 1 2 .333 2
9 TNT Tropang 5G 0 1 .000 2
10 Magnolia Chicken Timplados Hotshots 0 2 .000 2.5
11 Blackwater Bossing 0 2 .000 2.5
12 Titan Ultra Giant Risers 0 2 .000 2.5
13 g – Macau Black Knights 0 3 .000 3
Updated to match(es) played on March 20, 2026. Source: PBA.ph
Rules for classification: 1) winning percentage; 2) head-to-head goal average (quotient); 3) head-to-head record; 4) overall quotient; 5) coin toss[6]
g – Guests

Game log

2026 PBA Commissioner's Cup game log
Total: 1–0
March: 1–0
Game Date Opponent Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
1 March 18, 2026 Converge W 109–88 Marvin Jones (29) Cansino, Jones (8) Aaron Black (6) Ynares Center Antipolo 1–0
2 March 21, 2026 Phoenix Super LPG Ynares Center Antipolo
3 March 27, 2026 Rain or Shine Smart Araneta Coliseum
4 March 29, 2026 Titan Ultra Smart Araneta Coliseum
April: 0–0
Game Date Opponent Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
5 April 7, 2026 TNT Ninoy Aquino Stadium
6 April 11, 2026 Macau Ninoy Aquino Stadium
7 April 17, 2026 NLEX Ynares Center Montalban
8 April 28, 2026 San Miguel Ninoy Aquino Stadium
May: 0–0
Game Date Opponent Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
9 May 1, 2026 Barangay Ginebra Smart Araneta Coliseum
10 May 3, 2026 Blackwater Smart Araneta Coliseum
11 May 8, 2026 Terrafirma Ninoy Aquino Stadium
12 May 10, 2026 Magnolia SM Mall of Asia Arena


East Asia Super League

Group stage

Standings

Pos Team Pld W L PF PA PD PCT Qualification
1 Ryukyu Golden Kings 6 5 1 526 487 +39 .833 Advance to finals
2 Taoyuan Pauian Pilots 6 4 2 533 494 +39 .667
3 Meralco Bolts 6 3 3 493 492 +1 .500
4 Macau Black Bears 6 0 6 494 573 −79 .000
Source: EASL

Game log

22 October 2025 Ryukyu Golden Kings 81–72 Meralco Bolts Okinawa
19:05 (JST) Scoring by quarter: 14–18, 23–18, 22–20, 22–16
Pts: Kishimoto 22
Rebs: Cooley 19
Asts: Kishimoto 8 		Boxscore Pts: Hollis-Jefferson 25
Rebs: Romero 11
Asts: Hollis-Jefferson, Newsome 5 		Arena: Okinawa Suntory Arena
2 November 2025 Taoyuan Pauian Pilots 82–72 Meralco Bolts Taoyuan City
17:10 (TST) Scoring by quarter: 21–16, 22–14, 21–17, 18–25
Pts: Artino 20
Rebs: Artino 17
Asts: three players 3 		Boxscore Pts: Romero 26
Rebs: Romero 17
Asts: Hollis-Jefferson 4 		Arena: Taoyuan Arena
8 November 2025 Meralco Bolts 85–76 Taoyuan Pauian Pilots Ilagan
18:10 (PST) Scoring by quarter: 23–14, 20–16, 23–20, 19–26
Pts: Vahedi, Romero 22
Rebs: Romero 14
Asts: Vahedi, Hollis-Jefferson 7 		Boxscore Pts: Millner 19
Rebs: Artino 11
Asts: Brown 4 		Arena: The Capital Arena
15 November 2025 Meralco Bolts 92–74 Macau Black Bears Cebu City
18:10 (PST) Scoring by quarter: 25–24, 23–14, 17–14, 27–22
Pts: Hollis-Jefferson 34
Rebs: Romero 28
Asts: Hollis-Jefferson 5 		Boxscore Pts: Chong Qui 25
Rebs: Miller 10
Asts: Chong Qui 4 		Arena: Cebu Coliseum
6 December 2025 Macau Black Bears 91–93 Meralco Bolts Ilagan
18:10 (PST) Scoring by quarter: 27–29, 17–22, 19–20, 28–22
Pts: Peek-Green 26
Rebs: Deguara 13
Asts: Chong Qui 9 		Boxscore Pts: Romero 24
Rebs: Romero 17
Asts: Newsome 10 		Arena: The Capital Arena
11 February 2026 Meralco Bolts 79–88 Ryukyu Golden Kings Quezon City
19:40 (PST) Scoring by quarter: 16–26, 20–25, 22–23, 21–14
Pts: Romero 24
Rebs: Romero 9
Asts: Brownlee 6 		Boxscore Pts: Matsuwaki 18
Rebs: Cooley 11
Asts: Law, Kishimoto 4 		Arena: Smart Araneta Coliseum

Transactions

Free agency

Signings

Player Date signed Contract amount Contract length Former team Ref.
Raymond Almazan August 13, 2025 Not disclosed 2 years Re-signed [7]
Chris Newsome September 5, 2025 3 years Re-signed [8]

Subtractions

Player Number Position Reason New team Ref.
Jolo Mendoza 10 Shooting guard Released Abra Solid North Weavers (MPBL) [9]
Alvin Pasaol 23 Small forward Released [10]
Norbert Torres 29 Center / Power forward Free agent Barangay Ginebra San Miguel [11]
Ladis Lepalam Center Released [12]

Trades

Mid-season

February 2026
February 24, 2026[13] To Meralco
Javee Mocon 		To Converge
Jonnel Policarpio (from NLEX)
Kurt Reyson (from Meralco)
2028 (S52) Meralco second-round pick 		To NLEX
Schonny Winston (from Converge)
Kevin Racal (from Converge)

Recruited imports

Tournament Name Debuted Last game Record Ref.
Commissioner's Cup Marvin Jones March 18, 2026 (vs. Converge) 1–0 [14]

References

  1. ^ "Terrafirma's choice: Big man Chiu is Season 50 top draft pick". PBA.ph. Retrieved September 11, 2025.
  2. ^ Ballesteros, Jan (September 26, 2025). "PBA: Chris Newsome expresses appreciation for Meralco Bolts fresh threads". One Sports. Retrieved September 26, 2025.
  3. ^ Terrado, Reuben (September 26, 2025). "LOOK: Lights on for Meralco's 'OKC-ish' new logo, uniform". SPIN.ph. Retrieved September 26, 2025.
  4. ^ Terrado, Jonas (September 27, 2025). "PBA: Meralco Bolts mark 15th year with new look, retro touches". INQUIRER.net. Retrieved September 30, 2025.
  5. ^ Bacnis, Justine (October 1, 2025). "PBA scraps playoff for No. 8 seed starting Season 50". Tiebreaker Times. Retrieved October 12, 2025.
  6. ^ Bacnis, Justine (October 1, 2025). "PBA scraps playoff for No. 8 seed starting Season 50". Tiebreaker Times. Retrieved October 12, 2025.
  7. ^ Ramos, Gerry (August 13, 2025). "Raymond Almazan signed to fresh two-year deal by Meralco". Spin.ph. Retrieved September 11, 2025.
  8. ^ Ramos, Gerry (September 5, 2025). "Unrestricted free agent Newsome stays at Meralco on new three-year deal". Spin.ph. Retrieved September 11, 2025.
  9. ^ "Locked, loaded, and ready to score ⚡️ Jolo Mendoza is our newest Abra Weaver! ✌🏻 #AbraSolidNorthWeavers #MPBLSeason7". Facebook. July 1, 2025. Retrieved September 11, 2025.
  10. ^ Ramos, Gerry (September 7, 2025). "Meralco officially parts ways with Alvin Pasaol, Jolo Mendoza". Spin. Retrieved September 11, 2025.
  11. ^ Magallon, Reynald I. (September 6, 2025). "Newsome stays put with Meralco; Ginebra signs Norbert Torres". Manila Bulletin. Retrieved September 11, 2025.
  12. ^ Ramos, Gerry (March 4, 2026). "Ladis Lepalam eyes Converge spot after being released by Meralco". Spin.ph. Retrieved March 5, 2026.
  13. ^ Ramos, Gerry (February 24, 2026). "Poli officially with Converge, Winston at NLEX as trade approved". Spin.ph. Retrieved February 24, 2026.
  14. ^ Ramos, Gerry (March 7, 2026). "Meralco parts ways with Ismael Romero after Dubai incident". Spin.ph. Retrieved March 7, 2026.
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