# 2021 Meralco Bolts season

The 2021 Meralco Bolts season was the 11th season of the franchise in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA).

## Key dates

* March 14: The PBA season 46 draft was held at the TV5 Media Center in Mandaluyong.

## Draft picks

| Round | Pick | Player | Position | Place of birth | College |
| 1 | 9 | Alvin Pasaol | Guard/Forward | Philippines | UE |
| 3 | 33 | John Yasa | Center/Forward | Philippines | PCU |
| 4 | 43 | Luis Brill | Guard | USA | Wheeling |

## Philippine Cup
### Eliminations
#### Standings

| Pos | Teamvte | W | L | PCT | GB | Qualification |
| 1 | TNT Tropang Giga | 10 | 1 | .909 | — | Twice-to-beat in the quarterfinals |
| 2 | Meralco Bolts | 9 | 2 | .818 | 1 | Twice-to-beat in the quarterfinals |
| 3 | Magnolia Pambansang Manok Hotshots | 8 | 3 | .727 | 2 | Best-of-three quarterfinals |
| 4 | San Miguel Beermen | 7 | 4 | .636 | 3 | Best-of-three quarterfinals |
| 5 | NorthPort Batang Pier | 6 | 5 | .545 | 4 | Best-of-three quarterfinals |
| 6 | Rain or Shine Elasto Painters | 6 | 5 | .545 | 4 | Best-of-three quarterfinals |
| 7 | NLEX Road Warriors | 5 | 6 | .455 | 5 | Twice-to-win in the quarterfinals |
| 8 | Barangay Ginebra San Miguel | 4 | 7 | .364 | 6 | Twice-to-win in the quarterfinals |
| 9 | Phoenix Super LPG Fuel Masters | 4 | 7 | .364 | 6 | |
| 10 | Terrafirma Dyip | 4 | 7 | .364 | 6 | |
| 11 | Alaska Aces | 3 | 8 | .273 | 7 | |
| 12 | Blackwater Bossing | 0 | 11 | .000 | 10 | |
* 1 2 Head-to-head record: NorthPort 1–0 Rain or Shine
* 1 2 3 Head-to-head quotient: Phoenix 1.03, Barangay Ginebra 1.01, Terrafirma 0.96; eighth seed playoff: Barangay Ginebra 95–85 Phoenix

#### Game log

2021 PBA Philippine Cup game log Total: 9–2 :
July: 4–1
GameDateOpponentScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
1
July 16
NorthPort
W 85–63
Mac Belo (27)
Mac Belo (9)
Almazan, Quinto (5)
Ynares Sports Arena
1–0
2
July 18
San Miguel
W 93–87
Chris Newsome (17)
Bong Quinto (7)
Newsome, Quinto (6)
Ynares Sports Arena
2–0
3
July 24
Rain or Shine
L 72–85
Chris Newsome (13)
Cliff Hodge (12)
Chris Newsome (6)
Ynares Sports Arena
2–1
4
July 28
Phoenix Super LPG
W 91–80
Allein Maliksi (24)
Belo, Hodge, Maliksi (7)
Chris Newsome (7)
Ynares Sports Arena
3–1
5
July 31
Alaska
W 89–80
John Pinto (16)
Chris Newsome (11)
Chris Newsome (6)
Ynares Sports Arena
4–1 :
September: 5–1
GameDateOpponentScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
6
September 1
Magnolia
W 95–94
Mac Belo (22)
Cliff Hodge (11)
Chris Newsome (4)
DHVSU Gym
5–1
7
September 3
TNT
L 76–91
John Pinto (16)
Reynel Hugnatan (11)
Bong Quinto (5)
DHVSU Gym
5–2
8
September 1
Terrafirma
W 95–83
Bong Quinto (17)
Almazan, Pasaol, Quinto (8)
John Pinto (7)
DHVSU Gym
6–2
9
September 18
Blackwater
W 104–97
Allein Maliksi (21)
Raymond Almazan (17)
Bong Quinto (6)
DHVSU Gym
7–2
10
September 22
NLEX
W 104–101
Allein Maliksi (22)
Raymond Almazan (11)
Bong Quinto (8)
DHVSU Gym
8–2
11
September 23
Barangay Ginebra
W 79–66
Belo, Pasaol (15)
Raymond Almazan (10)
Bong Quinto (8)
DHVSU Gym
9–2 :

### Playoffs
#### Bracket

| Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Semifinals (best-of-7) | Semifinals (best-of-7) | Semifinals (best-of-7) | Finals (best-of-7) | Finals (best-of-7) | Finals (best-of-7) |
| (#1 twice-to-beat) | (#1 twice-to-beat) | (#1 twice-to-beat) | (#1 twice-to-beat) | | | | | | |
| 1 | TNT | TNT | 84 | | | | | | |
| 8 | Barangay Ginebra | Barangay Ginebra | 71 | | | | | | |
| 8 | Barangay Ginebra | Barangay Ginebra | 71 | 1 | TNT | 4 | | | |
| (best-of-3) | (best-of-3) | (best-of-3) | (best-of-3) | 1 | TNT | 4 | | | |
| (best-of-3) | (best-of-3) | (best-of-3) | (best-of-3) | 4 | San Miguel | 3 | | | |
| 4 | San Miguel | San Miguel | 2 | 4 | San Miguel | 3 | | | |
| 5 | NorthPort | NorthPort | 0 | | | | | | |
| 5 | NorthPort | NorthPort | 0 | | | | 1 | TNT | 4 |
| (#2 twice-to-beat) | (#2 twice-to-beat) | (#2 twice-to-beat) | (#2 twice-to-beat) | | | | 1 | TNT | 4 |
| (#2 twice-to-beat) | (#2 twice-to-beat) | (#2 twice-to-beat) | (#2 twice-to-beat) | | | | 3 | Magnolia | 1 |
| 2 | Meralco | 80 | 97 | | | | 3 | Magnolia | 1 |
| 7 | NLEX | 81 | 86 | | | | | | |
| 7 | NLEX | 81 | 86 | 2 | Meralco | 2 | | | |
| (best-of-3) | (best-of-3) | (best-of-3) | (best-of-3) | 2 | Meralco | 2 | | | |
| (best-of-3) | (best-of-3) | (best-of-3) | (best-of-3) | 3 | Magnolia | 4 | | | |
| 3 | Magnolia | Magnolia | 2 | 3 | Magnolia | 4 | | | |
| 6 | Rain or Shine | Rain or Shine | 0 | | | | | | |
* view
* talk

#### Game log

2021 PBA Philippine Cup playoffs game log Total: 3–5 :
Quarterfinals: 1–1
GameDateOpponentScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceSeries
1
September 29
NLEX
L 80–81
Allein Maliksi (16)
Cliff Hodge (11)
Newsome, Quinto (4)
DHVSU Gym
0–1
2
October 1
NLEX
W 97–86
Chris Newsome (23)
Hodge, Newsome (9)
Caram, Newsome (6)
DHVSU Gym
1–1 :
Semifinals: 2–4
GameDateOpponentScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceSeries
1
October 3
Magnolia
L 79–88
Bong Quinto (14)
Cliff Hodge (8)
Bong Quinto (10)
DHVSU Gym
0–1
2
October 6
Magnolia
L 78–92
Chris Newsome (18)
Belo, Hugnatan (7)
Chris Newsome (7)
DHVSU Gym
0–2
3
October 8
Magnolia
W 91–86
Chris Newsome (17)
Cliff Hodge (12)
Newsome, Quinto (4)
DHVSU Gym
1–2
4
October 10
Magnolia
L 69–81
Reynel Hugnatan (21)
Reynel Hugnatan (9)
Chris Newsome (8)
DHVSU Gym
1–3
5
October 13
Magnolia
W 102–98
Allein Maliksi (29)
Raymond Almazan (10)
Chris Newsome (6)
DHVSU Gym
2–3
6
October 15
Magnolia
L 85–93
Raymond Almazan (16)
Raymond Almazan (12)
Hodge, Newsome (6)
DHVSU Gym
2–4 :

## Governors' Cup
### Eliminations
#### Standings

| Pos | Teamvte | W | L | PCT | GB | Qualification |
| 1 | Magnolia Pambansang Manok Hotshots | 9 | 2 | .818 | — | Twice-to-beat in quarterfinals |
| 2 | NLEX Road Warriors | 8 | 3 | .727 | 1 | Twice-to-beat in quarterfinals |
| 3 | TNT Tropang Giga | 7 | 4 | .636 | 2 | Twice-to-beat in quarterfinals |
| 4 | Meralco Bolts | 7 | 4 | .636 | 2 | Twice-to-beat in quarterfinals |
| 5 | San Miguel Beermen | 7 | 4 | .636 | 2 | Twice-to-win in quarterfinals |
| 6 | Barangay Ginebra San Miguel | 6 | 5 | .545 | 3 | Twice-to-win in quarterfinals |
| 7 | Alaska Aces | 6 | 5 | .545 | 3 | Twice-to-win in quarterfinals |
| 8 | Phoenix Super LPG Fuel Masters | 5 | 6 | .455 | 4 | Twice-to-win in quarterfinals |
| 9 | NorthPort Batang Pier | 5 | 6 | .455 | 4 | |
| 10 | Rain or Shine Elasto Painters | 3 | 8 | .273 | 6 | |
| 11 | Terrafirma Dyip | 2 | 9 | .182 | 7 | |
| 12 | Blackwater Bossing | 1 | 10 | .091 | 8 | |
* 1 2 3 Head-to-head quotient: TNT 1.07, Meralco 0.99, San Miguel 0.95
* 1 2 Head-to-head record: Barangay Ginebra 1–0 Alaska
* 1 2 Eighth seed playoff: Phoenix 101–98 NorthPort

#### Game log

2021 PBA Governors' Cup game log Total: 7–4 :
December: 2–0
GameDateOpponentScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
1
December 16
Blackwater
W 98–77
Tony Bishop (28)
Tony Bishop (13)
John Pinto (7)
Smart Araneta Coliseum
1–0
2
December 22
TNT
W 83–80
Tony Bishop (36)
Tony Bishop (17)
Newsome, Pinto (4)
Smart Araneta Coliseum
2–0 :
February: 4–2
GameDateOpponentScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
3
February 11, 2022
NLEX
W 110–100
Tony Bishop (32)
Tony Bishop (13)
Tony Bishop (8)
Smart Araneta Coliseum
3–0
4
February 13, 2022
Barangay Ginebra
W 101–95
Tony Bishop (30)
Tony Bishop (13)
Bishop, Newsome (7)
Smart Araneta Coliseum
4–0
5
February 17, 2022
NorthPort
L 98–109
Tony Bishop (34)
Tony Bishop (16)
Chris Newsome (8)
Smart Araneta Coliseum
4–1
6
February 20, 2022
Rain or Shine
W 93–88
Tony Bishop (26)
Tony Bishop (14)
Chris Banchero (5)
Smart Araneta Coliseum 3,347
5–1
7
February 24, 2022
Terrafirma
W 107–95
Tony Bishop (26)
Tony Bishop (11)
Allein Maliksi (6)
Ynares Center
6–1
8
February 26, 2022
Alaska
L 93–94
Allein Maliksi (32)
Tony Bishop (13)
Tony Bishop (5)
Ynares Center
6–2 :
March: 1–2
GameDateOpponentScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
9
March 2, 2022
Magnolia
L 85–88
Tony Bishop (19)
Tony Bishop (14)
Chris Newsome (5)
Smart Araneta Coliseum
6–3
10
March 5, 2022
San Miguel
L 110–115
Tony Bishop (29)
Tony Bishop (14)
Chris Newsome (7)
Smart Araneta Coliseum
6–4
11
March 11, 2022
Phoenix Super LPG
W 109–90
Tony Bishop (35)
Tony Bishop (13)
Tony Bishop (5)
Smart Araneta Coliseum
7–4 :

### Playoffs
#### Bracket

| Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Semifinals (best-of-5) | Semifinals (best-of-5) | Semifinals (best-of-5) | Finals (best-of-7) | Finals (best-of-7) | Finals (best-of-7) |
| (#1 twice-to-beat) | (#1 twice-to-beat) | (#1 twice-to-beat) | (#1 twice-to-beat) | | | | | | |
| 1 | Magnolia | Magnolia | 127 | | | | | | |
| 8 | Phoenix Super LPG | Phoenix Super LPG | 88 | | | | | | |
| 8 | Phoenix Super LPG | Phoenix Super LPG | 88 | 1 | Magnolia | 2 | | | |
| (#4 twice-to-beat) | (#4 twice-to-beat) | (#4 twice-to-beat) | (#4 twice-to-beat) | 1 | Magnolia | 2 | | | |
| (#4 twice-to-beat) | (#4 twice-to-beat) | (#4 twice-to-beat) | (#4 twice-to-beat) | 4 | Meralco | 3 | | | |
| 4 | Meralco | Meralco | 100 | 4 | Meralco | 3 | | | |
| 5 | San Miguel | San Miguel | 85 | | | | | | |
| 5 | San Miguel | San Miguel | 85 | | | | 4 | Meralco | 2 |
| (#2 twice-to-beat) | (#2 twice-to-beat) | (#2 twice-to-beat) | (#2 twice-to-beat) | | | | 4 | Meralco | 2 |
| (#2 twice-to-beat) | (#2 twice-to-beat) | (#2 twice-to-beat) | (#2 twice-to-beat) | | | | 6 | Barangay Ginebra | 4 |
| 2 | NLEX | 79 | 96 | | | | 6 | Barangay Ginebra | 4 |
| 7 | Alaska | 93 | 80 | | | | | | |
| 7 | Alaska | 93 | 80 | 2 | NLEX | 1 | | | |
| (#3 twice-to-beat) | (#3 twice-to-beat) | (#3 twice-to-beat) | (#3 twice-to-beat) | 2 | NLEX | 1 | | | |
| (#3 twice-to-beat) | (#3 twice-to-beat) | (#3 twice-to-beat) | (#3 twice-to-beat) | 6 | Barangay Ginebra | 3 | | | |
| 3 | TNT | 92 | 95 | 6 | Barangay Ginebra | 3 | | | |
| 6 | Barangay Ginebra | 104 | 115 | | | | | | |
* view
* talk

#### Game log

2021 PBA Governors' game log Total: 6–6 :
Quarterfinals: 1–0
GameDateOpponentScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceSeries
1
March 18, 2022
San Miguel
W 100–85
Tony Bishop (32)
Tony Bishop (16)
Bong Quinto (5)
Smart Araneta Coliseum
1–0 :
Semifinals: 3–2
GameDateOpponentScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceSeries
1
March 23, 2022
Magnolia
L 80–94
Chris Banchero (16)
Tony Bishop (12)
Bong Quinto (4)
SM Mall of Asia Arena
0–1
2
March 25, 2022
Magnolia
W 81–75
Tony Bishop (22)
Tony Bishop (14)
Aaron Black (4)
SM Mall of Asia Arena
1–1
3
March 27, 2022
Magnolia
W 101–95
Tony Bishop (27)
Tony Bishop (10)
Banchero, Newsome (5)
SM Mall of Asia Arena 13,272
2–1
4
March 30, 2022
Magnolia
L 73–94
Tony Bishop (22)
Tony Bishop (16)
Chris Newsome (5)
Smart Araneta Coliseum 10,353
2–2
5
April 1, 2022
Magnolia
W 94–81
Allein Maliksi (24)
Bishop, Newsome (8)
Chris Newsome (12)
Smart Araneta Coliseum
3–2 :
Finals: 2–4
GameDateOpponentScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceSeries
1
April 6, 2022
Barangay Ginebra
W 104–91
Allein Maliksi (22)
Tony Bishop (12)
Chris Newsome (7)
Smart Araneta Coliseum 12,457
1–0
2
April 8, 2022
Barangay Ginebra
L 93–99
Tony Bishop (31)
Tony Bishop (13)
Aaron Black (6)
SM Mall of Asia Arena 12,248
1–1
3
April 10, 2022
Barangay Ginebra
W 83–74
Tony Bishop (30)
Tony Bishop (16)
Chris Newsome (6)
SM Mall of Asia Arena 16,104
2–1
4
April 13, 2022
Barangay Ginebra
L 84–95
Tony Bishop (25)
Almazan, Black (9)
Chris Newsome (5)
Smart Araneta Coliseum 17,298
2–2
5
April 17, 2022
Barangay Ginebra
L 110–115
Tony Bishop (30)
Tony Bishop (15)
Black, Newsome (5)
Smart Araneta Coliseum 18,251
2–3
6
April 22, 2022
Barangay Ginebra
L 92–103
Tony Bishop (21)
Tony Bishop (16)
Chris Newsome (6)
SM Mall of Asia Arena 20,224
2–4 :

## Transactions
### Trades
#### Pre-season

February :
| February 4, 2021 | To MeralcoMac Belo | To BlackwaterBaser Amer Bryan Faundo |

#### Mid-season

December :
| December 4, 2021 | To MeralcoFranky Johnson | To Rain or ShineTrevis Jackson |

### Recruited imports

| Tournament | Name | Debuted | Last game | Record |
| Governors' Cup | Tony Bishop | December 16, 2021 (vs. Blackwater) | April 22, 2022 (vs. Barangay Ginebra) | 13–10 |