September 11, 2025 | 6:54pm
MANILA, Philippines — The Meralco Bolts powered up for the East Asia Tremendous League by bringing collectively two of essentially the most prolific imports within the PBA in the present day in Rondae Hollis-Jefferson and Justin Brownlee.
Hollis-Jefferson and Brownlee confronted off in three extremely charged finals within the PBA as reinforcements of TNT and Barangay Ginebra, respectively, however will be part of forces this time below the Bolts banner within the regional event kicking off subsequent month.
EASL guidelines permitting a pair of imports and one naturalized participant and the PBA’s Season 50 calendar going with the Philippine Cup first cleared the best way for the RHJ-JB dream teamup. Three-time PBA Greatest Import and champion Hollis Jefferson will take one of many import slots whereas six-time PBA titlist and Gilas Pilipinas stalwart Brownlee will fill within the naturalized participant berth.
With the import-flavored PBA convention not in play till early subsequent 12 months, the Tropang 5G and the Gin Kings managements loaned their resident reinforcements to the Meralco, the lone Philippine guess within the home-and away league.
Anf to additional enhance their possibilities of going all the best way after falling a win wanting reaching the EASL semifinals final season, the Bolts added Puerto Rican nationwide workforce standout Ismael Romero into the fold.
The 6-foot-9 Romero suited up for the Magnificos Los Gallos within the 2023 FIBA World Cup, averaging 11.4 factors and seven.4 rebounds.
“Because the lone workforce representing the Philippines this season, we’re going all in to make the Filipino basketball group proud,” the Bolts mentioned in asserting the trio’s signing Thursday.
Meralco will likely be up towards the Macau Black Bears, Japan B. League runnerup Ryukyu Golden Kings and Taiwan P. League champion Taoyuan Pauian Pilots in Group B motion. The Bolts will launch their bid on October 22 towards the Golden Kings in Okinawa.
