Meralco aims to honor the PBA by winning the EASL 2025–26 during the league’s 50th anniversary

The Meralco Bolts will once again carry the Philippine flag in the 2025–26 East Asia Super League (EASL), marking their third consecutive appearance in the regional tournament.

The PBA announced the development on Monday, August 4. Unlike in past seasons when two PBA clubs participated, Meralco will be the country’s lone representative following the withdrawal of TNT Tropang Giga and San Miguel Beermen.

Meralco board member Bill Pamintuan vowed that the team will give its all as the PBA celebrates its 50th anniversary.

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“For the PBA, we will be giving it our best to finally win the EASL. We will leave no stone unturned, that we can promise,” Pamintuan said.

To bolster their campaign, the Bolts secured Gilas Pilipinas and Barangay Ginebra San Miguel star Justin Brownlee as their naturalized player. He will team up with Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, who returns as one of Meralco’s two imports. Their frontcourt will be reinforced by Ismael Romero, a Cuban-born forward who plays for Puerto Rico.

Puerto Rico national team member Israel Romero will be the second import of Meralco in the EASL after Rondae Hollis-Jefferson. Justin Brownlee will be the Bolts’ naturalized player @spinph

— gerryramos (@gerardmos) September 10, 2025

The locals will be led by captain Chris Newsome, supported by Chris Banchero, Cliff Hodge, Raymond Almazan, and the rest of the Bolts’ core.

The EASL champion will earn $1 million in prize money, which Pamintuan said will be awarded in full to the players and coaching staff if Meralco goes all the way.

“We want to win the tournament. This EASL will be a big challenge for us. We want to win it for the country and for the PBA, of course,” he added.

Meralco nearly reached the semifinals last season before bowing to a Jeremy Lin-led squad from Chinese Taipei in double overtime.

For the 2025–26 campaign, the Bolts were drawn into Group B with the Taoyuan Pauian Pilots (Taiwan), Ryukyu Golden Kings (Japan), and Macau Black Bears. They now share the distinction of appearing in three straight EASL seasons with Ryukyu and the New Taipei Kings.

The Bolts will open their campaign against the Ryukyu Golden Kings on October 22 in Okinawa.

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