If you trace their roots to the old PBA days, Meralco’s franchise has been in the league since 1975.
They started as the Great Taste Coffee Makers. For almost a decade, the team were whipping boys, and seen as “freebies” in case Toyota and Crispa needed to pad their win-loss records. This was until 1983 when Manny Victorino found help in the form of Coach Baby Dalupan, 3-time MVP Bogs Adornado, and Fil-Am super guard Ricardo Brown. In this incarnation, Great Taste had two almost grand slams, including a four-feat from 1984 to 1985. In 1987, the Coffee Makers got a good deal when they traded Victorino and Jimmy Manansala to Shell for aging stars Philip Cezar, Bernie Fabiosa, and Shell’s first-round pick in the PBA Draft who turned out to be Allan Caidic.
Anyway, one championship and two top picks later (Peter Jao and Vergel Meneses,) and the CFC Corporation sold their franchise to former PABL top dog Sta. Lucia Realty. The Realtors had two top picks in Jun Limpot and Dennis Espino, but the Realtors would win their first title almost a decade later in 2001 when they traded Limpot for Marlou Aquino and when they got another top pick in Paolo Mendoza. These three, alongside another top pick and their only MVP winner in Kelly Williams, gave way to their second and final championship in the 2007-08 PBA Philippine Cup.
In 2010, the Realtors sold their franchise to Meralco. Once a commercial league juggernaut, the franchise was unable to move to the PBA as it was disbanded in 1973, at the height of Martial Law. The Reddy Kilowatts had the likes of Robert Jaworski, Francis Arnaiz, Big Boy Reynoso, Jimmy Mariano, Orly Bauzon, Ramon Lucindo, and Larry “the Fox” Mumar. However, aside from Omolon and Aquino, the Bolts had to rely on what was left of the old Sta. Lucia squad.
For Meralco fans, this has been long overdue.
Anyway, here are the players they have and how they acquired them.
PART ONE: DRAFT PICKS
CHRIS NEWSOME | MERCADO VS NEWSOME
The Finals MVP of the first championship was taken fourth overall by the Bolts in the 2015 PBA Draft. With that said, Meralco acquired the pick when they traded then-team superstar Sol Mercado, Kelly Nabong, Jaypee Belencion, and Yousif Aljamal to the GlobalPort Batang Pier for the rights to select Newsome, Rey Guevarra, Josh Vanlandingham, and current San Miguel player Vic Manuel. Basically, Meralco virtually traded the Sol Train for his younger version. The Bolts had two picks in the first round back then, as they used their other pick to select former Gilas Pilipinas baller Baser Amer.
CLIFF HODGE
He is the Meralco player who played the most games with the squad, and if you check out his numbers, you can easily predict that he's the team's all-time leading rebounder. Selected fourth overall in a draft topped by June Mar Fajardo and Calvin Abueva, people were thinking back then that the Bolts were planning to select then-Gilas Pilipinas captain Chris Tiu. Sure, Tiu had a respectable PBA career, but it was a short-lived one. Tiu also had a what-if on whether or not he would have been a better PBA player if he didn't multitask with his priorities, as well as entered the draft when he was already 27 years old. Hodge not only became the better choice, but he also became the first Meralco player to win a Mythical Team spot during the 2016-17 PBA season.
ANJO CARAM
Selected 26th overall in the 2013 PBA Draft, this Meralco lifer started his PBA campaign when he was just 22 years old. Boasting a career that is similar to that of Indiana's TJ McConnell the former San Beda once upon a time shared backup PG time with former DLSU star Simon Atkins. While his age may have been the reason he was picked late in the draft, he turned his weakness into his strength as he is one of three Meralco players to play 300 games with the squad.
BONG QUINTO | RABEH VS QUINTO
The 2018 PBA Draft is in some ways, underwhelming. CJ Perez and Robert Bolick are stars. Bobby Ray Parks would have been in the same conversation if he stayed in the league, with Javee Mocon a possible fourth guy if only he stayed with Rain or Shine. And then, we have Bong Quinto. The former Letran Knight has had stops in the PBA D-League as well as in the MPBL before becoming the 14th player selected in the draft. Frankly, I am shocked that he dropped that low considering that the first player Meralco selected was Trevis Jackson. Anyway, Blackwater struck again here as they acted as a conduit for Meralco and NLEX. Meralco acquired the rights to select Quinto with Blackwater re-claiming the 2017 second-round pick they gave to NLEX (the pick turned out to be Renz Palma.) Meanwhile, NLEX acquired Rabeh Al-Hussaini from Meralco. While Rabeh's stock fell when, as a former top pick, his rights can be acquired using lowly second-rounders, at least he has a bit of consolation considering the career trajectory of Quinto.
AARON BLACK
Without question, Aaron Black got lucky in the draft. Picked 18th overall in the 2019 PBA Draft, it was hella obvious that Norman Black would pick his son. With that said Aaron never really had fanfare leading into the draft. He played sparingly for the Ateneo in his final two years and tried to compensate for the action by playing in the PBA D-League as well as in the MPBL. And during his first year, he made sure people saw his improved gameplay. Not only did his presence make Baser Amer's gameplay dispensable, but he also joined the likes of Leo Austria, Gerry Esplana, and Larry Fonacier as second-round Rookie of the Year winners. Even if he was out of the series because of ACL, you can't discount the fact that Black helped the Bolts to what they are now.
ALVIN PASAOL
The 2021 PBA Draft is in some ways, disappointing. Yes, Calvin Oftana, Jamie Malonzo, Joshua Munzon, Santi Santillan, and Will Navarro are beasts. With that said, the rest of the drafted players are so-so, to put it mildly. The former UE super scorer is a player that Meralco needs to develop in the future. I mean, he is a tank that can do multiple attacks.
BRANDON BATES
Meralco used their eighth pick in the 2023 PBA Draft to select the former DLSU Green Archer. Height is still an issue for the Bolts, and the 6'8 Fil-Aussie is just what the team needed. Bates held his own in the series, even though he is up against June Mar F'N Fajardo. The fact that the series started with Meralco throwing their bigs to The Kraken, and finished it with one or two key players trying to contain him means that they have grown confident in his defense. Bates' interaction with JMF after the series is an indication of good things to happen in Meralco's future, as they have finally acquired a vital cog to stretch their stay on the top.
JOLO MENDOZA
Meralco had three rookies this season. The former Ateneo Blue Eagle was taken 32nd overall in the 2023 PBA Draft and while he failed to see action in the finals, at least he got signed by the squad unlike UST's Zach Huang and San Sebastian's Jessie Sumoda, and played more games than Shean Jackson.
PART TWO: VIA TRADE
ALLEIN MALIKSI | MALIKSI FOR 4 PLAYERS
He was the second non-Gilas Pilipinas player to get selected in the 2011 PBA Draft. Despite being Dylan Ababou's backup in UST, Allein Maliksi managed to have a stellar PBA D-League campaign, becoming the league's first-ever MVP. Part of the San Mig Coffee grand slam squad, Maliksi yearned for playing time and got what he wished when he was traded to Blackwater, where he became one of the team's cornerstones. However, in 2019, he was traded to Meralco along with Raymar Jose for Mike Tolomia, KG Canaleta, and the team's 2020 and 2022 second-round picks. For one thing, the 2020 second-round pick turned into Rey Mark Acuno. With that said, the 2022 second-round pick was used to select James Kwekuteye. At the moment though, it seems like Meralco got the better with the deal.
RAYMOND ALMAZAN | TWO FIRST-ROUND PICKS VS ALMAZAN
Rakenrol Almazan spent a couple of months with the Gilas Pilipinas main roster so yes, his gameplay attracted one or two MVP squads. Meralco is the more obvious choice among the three teams because the Bolts have lost twice to Ginebra in the Governors' Cup Finals because they can't find a way to stop Japeth Aguilar and Greg Slaughter. Anyway, Almazan helped the Bolts to two more Finals appearances, but Meralco continued their losing streak against the Kings. With that said, Rain or Shine acquired two first-round picks in 2019 and 2021 in exchange for the former Letran Knight. The Elasto Painters used the 2019 pick for Clint Doliguez, and then for Shaun Ildefonso in the 2021 PBA Draft.
NORBERT TORRES | BELO VS TORRES
Picked as the eighth overall in the same draft that had Newsome, Amer, and Don Trollano, the former DLSU Green Archer was traded to the Bolts in the 2023-24 PBA offseason because Rain or Shine's Yeng Guiao wanted Mac Belo to rejuvenate his career. I guess I can compare Belo's career to that of Jabari Parker. And I think I can compare Torres' career to that of Precious Achiuwa. In some ways, I am leaning towards the role player who gets to see action every game rather than the potential star who was saddled by injuries, which led to missed opportunities.
RAYMAR JOSE | MALIKSI FOR 4 PLAYERS
As mentioned, Blackwater gave up their star in Allein Maliksi for virtually four players. With that said, Raymar Jose was also part of the deal. Picked third overall in the 2017 PBA Draft ahead of Jason Perkins, Jeron Teng, Rey Nambatac, and Robbie Herndon, the former FEU Tam who once played for the ABL's Kaoshiung Truth struggled to make his presence felt. At least he finished the season with his first championship.
PART THREE: FREE AGENCY
CHRIS BANCHERO
The former ABL star was taken fifth overall by the Alaska Aces in the 2014 PBA Draft. Banchero had stopovers with Magnolia, and then to Phoenix (the deal that also involved Calvin Abueva,) before landing a spot with the Bolts. Phoenix wanted Banchero to stay but the former Seattle Pacific star rejected their offers, en route to his first PBA championship.
KYLE PASCUAL
Before the former San Beda star signed a two-year deal with the Bolts, Kyle Pascual just had a full circle moment with the Terrafirma Dyip. He is the second player drafted by the squad in 2014 after Manny Pacquiao, and the five-time NCAA champion won a title with the Magnolia Hotshots in 2018.
JANSEN RIOS
Taken 25th overall in the same 2015 PBA Draft, Rios spent his first four seasons with the NLEX Road Warriors before signing with the Phoenix Fuel Masters. After three seasons with Phoenix, Rios signed a one-year deal with the Bolts, leading to his first PBA title.
DIEGO DARIO
The player/sportscaster was Blackwater's 24th pick in the 2018 PBA Draft. After two seasons with the Elite, the former UP Fighting Maroon became a practice player in Meralco. In 2023, he finally got to see action, and 16 games later, he won his first PBA championship.
Unlike San Miguel, most of Meralco’s players were taken in the PBA Draft. Like San Miguel, most of Meralco’s assets were acquired from their farm team. Northport and Terrafirma are to the SMC as Blackwater, Rain Or Shine, and Phoenix is to the MVP Group. Except for the GlobalPort deal that sent the draft rights of Chris Newsome to Meralco, all of the deals happened with one of the three teams involved.
But again, most of Meralco’s roster was acquired through the most basic of ways, and they’re probably going to keep most of them in the coming season.