Last June, the Meralco Bolts etched their name in PBA history by winning their first-ever title in the 2024 PBA Philippine Cup. Now, that championship momentum has carried over into the 2024 PBA Governor’s Cup, where the Bolts have started with a 5-1 record, tied for the best in the league so far and only finding themselves second in their group because of the TNT Tropang Giga’s superior points scored/allowed advantage.

Meralco has responded well to active consultant Nenad Vucinic since he joined the team in May 2023, particularly reigning PBA Philippine Cup Finals Most Valuable Player Chris Newsome and Bong Quinto.

In their latest outing, an 82-74 victory over the Magnolia Chicken Timplados Hotshots in Panabo City, Davao del Norte, both Newsome and Quinto delivered standout performances yet again.

Newsome led the charge with 21 points on an efficient 12 shots, along with eight rebounds, two assists, a steal, and a block. He was a team-best +17 in terms of +/- which is particularly impressive since it was just an eight-point win for the Bolts. The 6’2 guard has thrived under Vucinic’s system, embracing his role as the team’s primary ball handler and lead guard. He famously hit the game-winner in Meralco’s title-clinching Game 6 victory in last conference’s finals and looks even more confident now in the months since hitting this shot.

The transformation of Newsome over the past year or so has truly been remarkable, as he earned his first PBA All-Star appearance in 2023, followed it up with another All-Star selection this year, and is now poised to establish himself as one of the league’s best overall players.

Bong Quinto has also seen tremendous growth in his game over the past year. He has gone from playing just spot minutes into a crucial member of Meralco’s starting lineup. Quinto shined in their win over Magnolia, logging a team-high 36 minutes where he chipped in with 16 points, including a four-pointer, along with eight rebounds and four assists.

While there is nothing particularly flashy about the 6’2 Qunito’s game, his hard-nosed attitude and consistency have given him this opportunity to play a major role for the Bolts.

Chris Banchero and Brandon Bates have also continued to be key contributors for this team, further highlighting Vucinic’s thrust in empowering Meralco’s role players.

With resident import Allen Durham back onboard for his fifth tour of duty with the Bolts, it looks like this team has a legitimate chance of winning a second consecutive championship. This Meralco team might not have the same quantity of big name talent as that of its rivals, but their commitment to their system and the take-charge ability of Newsome give them more than enough tools to challenge the league’s best teams on a nightly basis. 

This is clearly just the beginning for these Bolts.