Meralco marches to BCL Asia in full force

Meralco is expected to be in full force when it competes in the Basketball Champions League Asia (BCL Asia) from 9 to 15 June.

With the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) using its 10-year residency rule, Bolts head coach Luigi Trillo said veterans such as Cliff Hodge, Chris Newsome and Chris Banchero are cleared to play as locals despite being Filipino-foreign players.

“I think it’s already been clear that they’ve been in the league long enough: 10 years,” Trillo said following their 84-101 loss to TNT Tropang 5G in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Philippine Cup last Sunday at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.

“So, Hodge will be able to play, Banchero will play, New (Chris Newsome) can play because he’s with the national team.”

Hodge came into the PBA in 2012 as Meralco’s fourth overall pick, while the Alaska Aces picked Banchero as the fifth overall pick in 2014.

Newsome, on the other hand, played for Ateneo de Manila University in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines in 2013 and is now a mainstay at Gilas Pilipinas.

As the defending Philippine Cup champions, the Bolts were selected by the league to represent the country in the biggest club competition in Asia.

But familiarity with international play will not be a problem for Meralco.

The Bolts, in fact, represented the country when the competition was still known as the FIBA Asia Champions Cup in 2018 in Thailand.

Reinforced by Allen Durham and Diamond Stone as well as locals Reynel Hugnatan, KG Cañaleta, Mike Tolomia, and Baser Amer, the Bolts made it to the semifinal before bowing to eventual champion Petrochimi of Iran, 74-79.

Since competing overseas in 2018, the Bolts have been more accustomed to playing tougher international opponents from the Japan B.League and the Korean Basketball League after joining the East Asia Super League (EASL) in 2023 and 2024.

To make sure that they will be at their best, Trillo said they will be looking for reinforcements to beef up their squad in the BCL Asia.

“I think we’re allowed to bring three imports and nine locals. We’re gonna get good imports. We’re gonna look around,” Trillo said.

In the EASL last year, the Bolts tapped Akil Mitchell and DJ Kennedy as imports while Ange Kouame competed as a naturalized player.

Newsome said he is honored to represent the Philippines in two major FIBA-sanctioned events this year.

Aside from the BCL Asia, Newsome will be suiting up for Gilas Pilipinas in the FIBA Asia Cup in Jeddah from 5 to 17 August.

“It’s exciting. Anytime you get to go out of the country, play international basketball, and represent the Philippines, it’s an honor,” Newsome said.

“For us to be able to have that chance, especially to represent the PBA and the Philippines, it’s something that I would always suit up for, whether that’s in a Meralco jersey or Gilas jersey.”