FILEMeralco Bolts celebrate a win over KBL’s Busan KCC Egis in the EASL. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

The PBA has selected Meralco to once again represent the league in the 2025-26 season of the East Asia Super League.

Coach Luigi Trillo said the Bolts were informed on Wednesday shortly after the PBA Board of Governors meeting to discuss plans for the landmark 50th season which tips off in October.

READ: Only one PBA club this time as EASL expands to 12 teams

It will be the third consecutive year that Meralco will participate in the competition, which has been expanded to 12 teams with the inclusion of the champions from Mongolia and Taiwan’s TPBL.

Meralco, however, will be the only PBA squad to join the EASL after it previously had two teams in the past two editions.

Their return to the EASL came despite not having won any of the three conferences in the past 2024-25 PBA season. TNT ruled the Governors’ Cup and Commissioner’s Cup before San Miguel Beer claimed the Philippine Cup title last week.

READ: Meralco misses out on EASL semifinals after 2OT loss to New Taipei

PBA teams have struggled in the previous two EASL editions, with the exception of Meralco, which seems to make sure that it would put up a competitive showing against teams from neighboring countries.

The Bolts won just once in the 2023-24 season after replacing Barangay Ginebra as the second PBA team after defeating the B.League’s Ryukyu Golden Kings in Macau.

Last season saw Meralco fall one win short of becoming the PBA team to enter the Final Four, going to 2-4 in the group stage.

Meralco came up short against the New Taipei Kings in the final game of the season after a heartbreaking double overtime loss denied the Bolts a Final Four berth.