2022–23 Meralco Bolts season explained

Team:	Meralco Bolts
Pbayear:	2022–23
Coach:	Norman Black Luigi Trillo (interim)^[1]
1C-Name:	Philippine Cup
1C-Wins:	7
1C-Losses:	4
1C-Place:	5
1C-Playoffs:	Semifinalist (lost to San Miguel, 3–4)
2C-Name:	Commissioner's Cup
2C-Wins:	4
2C-Losses:	8
2C-Place:	10
2C-Playoffs:	Did not qualify
3C-Name:	Governors' Cup
3C-Wins:	7
3C-Losses:	4
3C-Place:	4
3C-Playoffs:	Semifinalist (lost to TNT, 1–3)
Owners:	Manila Electric Company
Prevseason:	2021
Nextseason:	2023–24

The 2022–23 Meralco Bolts season was the 12th season of the franchise in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA).

Key dates

May 15: The PBA Season 47 draft was held at the Robinsons Place Manila in Manila.^[2]
June 6: After Norman Black files leave for personal reasons, Luigi Trillo acted as standing-in head coach and won his first game against the Elasto Painters.
July 31: The Bolts won against the Gin Kings for the first time in a playoff series.^[3]
August 5: Norman Black returned to the sidelines, as he led the Bolts to tie the semifinals series (1–1) against the San Miguel Beermen.^[4]

Draft picks

See main article: PBA Season 47 draft.

Round	Pick	Player	Position	Place of birth	College
2	22		C		Letran
3	34		G		UP Diliman
4	42		G		UE

Philippine Cup

Eliminations

Game log

|-bgcolor=ccffcc| 1| June 11| Phoenix Super LPG| W 109–98| Chris Newsome (21)| Cliff Hodge (10)| Chris Newsome (7)| Ynares Center| 1–0|-bgcolor=ccffcc| 2| June 16| Converge| W 90–74| Aaron Black (25)| Raymond Almazan (15)| Black, Newsome (5)| Ynares Center| 2–0|-bgcolor=ffcccc| 3| June 18| TNT| L 71–78| Allein Maliksi (20)| Cliff Hodge (9)| Bong Quinto (4)| Ynares Center| 2–1|-bgcolor=ccffcc| 4| June 23| NorthPort| W 97–87| Aaron Black (20)| Raymar Jose (13)| Black, Newsome (7)| Ynares Center| 3–1|-bgcolor=ffcccc| 5| June 25| NLEX| L 75–90| Chris Newsome (17)| Raymar Jose (9)| Banchero, Newsome (3)| Ynares Center| 3–2|-bgcolor=ffcccc| 6| June 30| Blackwater| L 89–90| Chris Newsome (23)| Cliff Hodge (7)| Bong Quinto (8)| Smart Araneta Coliseum| 3–3|-bgcolor=ccffcc| 7| July 6| Rain or Shine| W 77–73| Aaron Black (20)| Raymond Almazan (15)| Aaron Black (6)| Smart Araneta Coliseum| 4–3|-bgcolor=ccffcc| 8| July 13| Barangay Ginebra| W 90–73| Chris Newsome (19)| Raymond Almazan (15)| Black, Quinto (5)| Smart Araneta Coliseum| 5–3|-bgcolor=ffcccc| 9| July 15| Magnolia| L 88–97 (OT)| Chris Newsome (24)| Raymond Almazan (18)| Aaron Black (7)| Ynares Center| 5–4|-bgcolor=ccffcc| 10| July 17| San Miguel| W 89–86| Allein Maliksi (18)| Cliff Hodge (11)| Black, Hodge, Newsome (5)| Smart Araneta Coliseum| 6–4|-bgcolor=ccffcc| 11| July 21| Terrafirma| W 105–89| Chris Newsome (19)| Raymond Almazan (9)| Banchero, Black, Newsome (5)| Smart Araneta Coliseum| 7–4

Playoffs

Game log

|-bgcolor=ccffcc| 1| July 24| Barangay Ginebra| W 93–82| Aaron Black (25)| Newsome, Pascual (9)| Chris Newsome (6)| Smart Araneta Coliseum| 1–0|-bgcolor=ffcccc| 2| July 29| Barangay Ginebra| L 87–94| Cliff Hodge (25)| Raymond Almazan (10)| Chris Newsome (6)| Filoil EcoOil Centre| 1–1|-bgcolor=ccffcc| 3| July 31| Barangay Ginebra| W 106–104| Chris Newsome (21)| Cliff Hodge (18)| Chris Newsome (12)| SM Mall of Asia Arena| 2–1|-bgcolor=ffcccc| 1| August 3| San Miguel| L 97–121| Chris Banchero (17)| Almazan, Jose, Newsome, Quinto (6)| Chris Banchero (5)| Smart Araneta Coliseum| 0–1|-bgcolor=ccffcc| 2| August 5| San Miguel| W 99–88| Cliff Hodge (17)| Cliff Hodge (14)| Chris Newsome (5)| Smart Araneta Coliseum| 1–1|-bgcolor=ffcccc| 3| August 7| San Miguel| L 91–96| Chris Newsome (16)| Cliff Hodge (13)| Chris Newsome (6)| Smart Araneta Coliseum| 1–2|-bgcolor=ccffcc| 4| August 10| San Miguel| W 111–97| Aaron Black (21)| Black, Hodge (7)| Aaron Black (7)| Smart Araneta Coliseum| 2–2|-bgcolor=ffcccc| 5| August 12| San Miguel| L 78–89| Chris Newsome (24)| Aaron Black (11)| Black, Newsome (4)| Smart Araneta Coliseum| 2–3|-bgcolor=ccffcc| 6| August 14| San Miguel| W 96–92| Chris Newsome (19)| Cliff Hodge (12)| Aaron Black (6)| Smart Araneta Coliseum
9,439| 3–3|-bgcolor=ffcccc| 7| August 17| San Miguel| L 89–100| Cliff Hodge (23)| Cliff Hodge (8)| Banchero, Hodge, Newsome (4)| Smart Araneta Coliseum| 3–4

Commissioner's Cup

Eliminations

Game log

|-bgcolor=ffcccc| 1| September 30, 2022| NorthPort| L 95–101 (OT)| Johnny O'Bryant III (30)| Johnny O'Bryant III (22)| Aaron Black (7)| Smart Araneta Coliseum| 0–1|-bgcolor=ffcccc| 2| October 2, 2022| Barangay Ginebra| L 91–99| Johnny O'Bryant III (31)| Johnny O'Bryant III (16)| Aaron Black (9)| Smart Araneta Coliseum| 0–2|-bgcolor=ccffcc| 3| October 7, 2022| Terrafirma| W 105–92| Johnny O'Bryant III (31)| Johnny O'Bryant III (11)| Chris Banchero (7)| Smart Araneta Coliseum| 1–2|-bgcolor=ffcccc| 4| October 15, 2022| Converge| L 99–106| Johnny O'Bryant III (27)| Johnny O'Bryant III (15)| Aaron Black (6)| Smart Araneta Coliseum| 1–3|-bgcolor=ffcccc| 5| October 19, 2022| Phoenix Super LPG| L 82–89| Bong Quinto (22)| Johnny O'Bryant III (16)| Johnny O'Bryant III (9)| PhilSports Arena| 1–4|-bgcolor=ffcccc| 6| October 22, 2022| Rain or Shine| L 96–113| Johnny O'Bryant III (30)| Raymond Almazan (12)| Black, O'Bryant (5)| PhilSports Arena| 1–5|-bgcolor=ccffcc| 7| November 4, 2022| Bay Area| W 92–89| K. J. McDaniels (31)| Raymond Almazan (16)| Banchero, Black (2)| Smart Araneta Coliseum| 2–5|-bgcolor=ccffcc| 8| November 11, 2022| Blackwater| W 102–98 (OT)| K. J. McDaniels (26)| K. J. McDaniels (16)| K. J. McDaniels (5)| Ynares Center| 3–5|-bgcolor=ccffcc| 9| November 16, 2022| TNT| W 97–91| K. J. McDaniels (26)| K. J. McDaniels (15)| Aaron Black (6)| Smart Araneta Coliseum| 4–5|-bgcolor=ffcccc| 10| November 27, 2022| Magnolia| L 96–108| K. J. McDaniels (32)| K. J. McDaniels (9)| Chris Banchero (5)| PhilSports Arena| 4–6|-bgcolor=ffcccc| 11| November 30, 2022| NLEX| L 81–92| K. J. McDaniels (22)| Hodge, McDaniels (9)| Aaron Black (4)| PhilSports Arena| 4–7|-bgcolor=ffcccc| 12| December 2, 2022| San Miguel| L 108–113| K. J. McDaniels (27)| Raymar Jose (17)| Anjo Caram (6)| PhilSports Arena| 4–8

Governors' Cup

Eliminations

Game log

|-bgcolor=ccffcc| 1| January 22| Rain or Shine| W 105–87| K. J. McDaniels (27)| K. J. McDaniels (23)| Chris Newsome (6)| PhilSports Arena| 1–0|-bgcolor=ccffcc| 2| January 26| NorthPort| W 107–102 | K. J. McDaniels (32)| K. J. McDaniels (22)| Chris Newsome (6)| PhilSports Arena| 2–0|-bgcolor=ffcccc| 3| January 28| Terrafirma| L 88–96| K. J. McDaniels (29)| K. J. McDaniels (19)| Black, McDaniels (4)| Ynares Center| 2–1|-bgcolor=ccffcc| 4| February 4| Blackwater| W 125–99| Allein Maliksi (30)| K. J. McDaniels (15)| K. J. McDaniels (8)| Ynares Center| 3–1|-bgcolor=ffcccc| 5| February 9| San Miguel| L 86–94| McDaniels, Newsome (18)| K. J. McDaniels (13)| Chris Newsome (5)| Smart Araneta Coliseum| 3–2|-bgcolor=ffcccc| 6| February 17| TNT| L 104–111 | K. J. McDaniels (26)| K. J. McDaniels (15)| Chris Newsome (4)| Smart Araneta Coliseum| 3–3|-bgcolor=ccffcc| 7| February 23| NLEX| W 114–98| K. J. McDaniels (31)| K. J. McDaniels (21) | Chris Newsome (8)| PhilSports Arena| 4–3|-bgcolor=ccffcc| 8| February 26| Magnolia| W 86–84| K. J. McDaniels (19)| K. J. McDaniels (15) | Aaron Black (4)| Smart Araneta Coliseum| 5–3|-bgcolor=ffcccc| 9| March 1| Barangay Ginebra| L 107–112 | K. J. McDaniels (28)| K. J. McDaniels (11)| Banchero, Black (5)| Smart Araneta Coliseum| 5–4|-bgcolor=ccffcc| 10| March 3| Converge| W 132–129 (OT)| K. J. McDaniels (33)| K. J. McDaniels (12) | Black, Hodge (5)| Smart Araneta Coliseum| 6–4|-bgcolor=ccffcc| 11| March 5| Phoenix Super LPG| W 92–86 | K. J. McDaniels (19)| K. J. McDaniels (16) | Chris Newsome (9)| PhilSports Arena| 7–4

Playoffs

Game log

|-bgcolor=ccffcc| 1| March 22| Magnolia| W 113–107 (OT)| Chris Newsome (33)| Aaron Black (12)| Chris Newsome (7)| Smart Araneta Coliseum| 1–0|-bgcolor=ffcccc| 1| March 24| TNT| L 80–110 | K. J. McDaniels (12)| K. J. McDaniels (14) | Aaron Black (5)| Ynares Center| 0–1|-bgcolor=ccffcc| 2| March 26| TNT| W 124–117 (OT)| K. J. McDaniels (39)| K. J. McDaniels (20)| Aaron Black (10)| Ynares Center| 1–1|-bgcolor=ffcccc| 3| March 29| TNT| L 80–99| K. J. McDaniels (30)| Aaron Black (11)| Chris Newsome (5)| Smart Araneta Coliseum| 1–2|-bgcolor=ffcccc| 4| March 31| TNT| L 92–107| K. J. McDaniels (37)| K. J. McDaniels (12)| Aaron Black (7)| Smart Araneta Coliseum| 1–3

Transactions

Free agency

Signings

Player	Date signed	Contract amount	Contract length	Former team
align=center	Aaron Black	align=center	May 24, 2022^[5]	align=center rowspan=4	Not disclosed	align=center rowspan=2	2 years	align=center	Re-signed
align=center	Kyle Pascual	align=center	May 26, 2022^[6]	align=center	Terrafirma Dyip
align=center	Jansen Rios	align=center	January 19, 2023^[7]	align=center	1 year	align=center	Phoenix Super LPG Fuel Masters
align=center	Diego Dario	align=center	January 24, 2023^[8]	align=center	1 conference	align=center	Davao Occidental Tigers (PSL)

Recruited imports

Tournament	Name	Debuted	Last game	Record
		September 30, 2022	October 22, 2022	1–5
		November 4, 2022	December 2, 2022	3–3
		January 22, 2023	March 31, 2023	9–7

Awards

Recipient	Honors	Date awarded
Cliff Hodge	2022–23 PBA All-Defensive Team	November 5, 2023^[9]
Chris Newsome	2022–23 PBA All-Defensive Team	November 5, 2023^[9]

Notes and References

Web site: July 6, 2022 . Luigi Trillo guides Meralco out of slump as stand-in for Norman Black . July 8, 2022 . Rappler . en-US.
https://pba.ph/news/blackwater-fills-hole-in-the-middle-selects-brandon-ganuelas-rosser-as-no-1-pick-overall
Web site: July 31, 2022 . Meralco averts disaster, boots out Ginebra in breakthrough playoff win to reach semis . August 5, 2022 . Rappler . en-US.
Web site: Li . Matthew . August 5, 2022 . Norman Black returns to Meralco . August 5, 2022 . Tiebreaker Times . en-US.
News: Gerry . Ramos . No sophomore jinx as Aaron Black rewarded with two-year extension . Spin.ph . June 7, 2022.
News: Gerry . Ramos . Free agent Kyle Pascual declines Terrafirma offer to sign with Meralco . Spin.ph . June 7, 2022.
News: Reuben . Terrado . Jansen Rios signs with Meralco at the end of Phoenix contract . Spin.ph . January 20, 2023.
News: Matthew . Li . Diego Dario cracks Meralco lineup, signs one conference deal . Tiebreaker Times . January 25, 2023.
Web site: Fajardo leads list of winners in PBA Leo Awards . November 5, 2023 . PBA.ph . January 16, 2024.