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Meralco Reddy Kilowatts

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This article is about the original MERALCO basketball team. For the PBA team, see Meralco Bolts. For the electricity mascot, see Reddy Kilowatt.
MERALCO Reddy Kilowatts
LeaguesMICAA
Founded1968
History1968-1972
LocationPhilippines
Team colorsOrange, Black, Gold, White
       
PresidentManuel M. López
Head coachFelicisimo Fajardo
Valentin "Tito" Eduque
Lauro Mumar
ChampionshipsBAP (2):
1969 National Seniors
1970 National Invitational
MICAA (1):
1971 Open

The MERALCO Reddy Kilowatts were a basketball team of the MERALCO Athletic Club owned by the Manila Electric Company (MERALCO) that played in the Manila Industrial and Commercial Athletic Association (MICAA) from 1968 to 1972. Its moniker and mascot, Reddy Kilowatt, was a licensed branding character used by the company during that period. The company briefly joined the MICAA prior to World War II and was re-admitted in 1968.

The team consisted of players from the just-disbanded Ysmael Steel Admirals – namely, Alberto “Big Boy” Reynoso, Alfonso “Boy” Marquez, Jimmy Mariano and Orlando Bauzon. Other players included, Ramon Lucindo, Robert Jaworski, Fort Acuña, Francis Arnaiz, Bobby Salonga, Arthur Herrera, Larry Mumar and Jumbo Salvador. The team was originally coached by Valentin “Tito” Eduque. In 1970, Lauro Mumar took over the position of head coach.

After the demise of the YCO-Ysmael Steel rivalry following the breakup of the Ysmael Steel Admirals in 1968, the Reddy Kilowatts and the Crispa-Floro Redmanizers began its own rivalry beginning in 1970. The rivalry came into full bloom on December 19, 1971, during their last 1971 MICAA All-Filipino elimination round game - when Reynoso and Jaworski mauled referees Eriberto “Ting” Cruz and Jose “Joe” Obias in retaliation for what Reynoso and Jaworski perceived to be dubious calls against them. Reynoso and Jaworski were meted lifetime suspensions by the Basketball Association of the Philippines.[1] The suspensions were lifted through the efforts of Presidential Assistant Guillermo “Gimo” de Vega in time for the 1973 FIBA Asia Championship.

The team disbanded in 1972 in the wake of the declaration of Martial Law in the Philippines, wherein the Marcos government seized the company from Eugenio López, Sr.

Reynoso, Jaworski, Bauzon, Acuña and Arnaiz went on to form the nucleus of the Komatsu Komets/Toyota Comets in 1973. The Comets carried on MERALCO’s rivalry with Crispa beginning in 1974, during the 1974 MICAA All-Filipino tournament.

Championships

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The Reddy Kilowatts won one MICAA championship in the 1971 MICAA Open, defeating Crispa, 65–58, before a banner crowd at the Araneta Coliseum. This was MERALCO's only MICAA basketball title since rejoining the league in 1968.[2] They also won two (2) National (BAP) titles - the 1969 National Seniors and the 1970 National Invitational.[3]

Rosters

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1971 MICAA Open Champion team

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Meralco Reddy Kilowatts roster
Players Coaches
Pos. No. Nat. Name Ht. Wt.
F/C 4 Philippines Reynoso, Alberto 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 220 lb (100 kg)
G 5 Philippines Salonga, Bobby 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) 165 lb (75 kg)
F 6 Philippines Mariano, Jimmy 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 160 lb (73 kg)
G 7 Philippines Jaworski, Robert 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 185 lb (84 kg)
G 8 Philippines Arnaiz, Francis 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) 162 lb (73 kg)
G 9 Philippines Bauzon, Orlando 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 180 lb (82 kg)
G 10 Philippines Arazas, Engracio
G 11 Philippines Marquez, Alfonso 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
F 12 Philippines Salvador, Jumbo 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
G 13 Philippines Ross, Jun
G 15 Philippines Mumar, Lawrence 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) 135 lb (61 kg)
F 16 Philippines Lucindo, Ramon 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 170 lb (77 kg)
G/F 18 Philippines Acuña, Fort 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 185 lb (84 kg)
C 20 United States Presley, Bob (I) 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)
C 21 United States Greenfield, Carl (I) 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)
Head coach
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • Injured Injured

Other notable players

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  • Jing Aldanese
  • Chito Afable
  • Ric Cabrera
  • Arthur Herrera
  • Rudy Hines
  • Dave Regullano
  • Joseph Wilson

Imports

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  • Charles Greenfield
  • Don Griffin
  • Tine Hardeman
  • Bob Presley

Coaches

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Team manager

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  • Manuel M. López (Meralco vice-president and adviser of the Meralco Athletic Club).
  • Emmanuel J. Ledesma

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Liao, Henry (December 3, 2021). "A sad episode in Jawo's cage life". Sports Bytes Philippines. Retrieved December 3, 2021.
  2. ^ "Meralco carrying on a sports tradition". sports.inquirer.net.
  3. ^ "Meralco Reddy Kilowatts: An oral history". fhm.com.ph.
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