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Meralco Bolts' Bong Quinto

Romwel Anzures

ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img alt="Meralco’s Bong Quinto. Photo from PBA Images." src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1718705646534IMG_4237.jpeg" class="fr-fil fr-dib"/><figcaption>Meralco’s Bong Quinto. <em>Photo from PBA Images</em></figcaption></figure></div><p>MANILA — Championship glory evaded Bong Quinto towards the end of his collegiate stint with Colegio de San Juan de Letran and early in his professional career in the PBA.</p><p>After winning the NCAA Season 91 men’s basketball title while donning the Knights’ blue and red, Quinto fell short of leading the Muralla-based squad to another title before he exited the grand old league. </p><p>This drought extended when he eventually played for the Meralco Bolts upon his entry through the 2018 Rookie Draft as the 14th overall pick, with the squad absorbing Finals defeats against Barangay Ginebra San Miguel in 2019 and 2022.</p><p>Fortunately, after almost a decade, the curse is now over for Quinto.</p><p>The former Letran Squires MVP helped Meralco slay the mighty San Miguel Beermen in the 2024 PBA Philippine Cup Finals, putting up 10.8 points, 2.8 rebounds, and two assists in six games.</p><p>&quot;Sobrang thankful talaga ako sa Panginoon sa opportunity na binigay Niya sa akin, at sa pagiingat sa parehong team. Sobrang nagpapasalamat ako sa Panginoon, at sa pamilya ko, siyempre,&quot; the 6-foot-2 winger told ABS-CBN News on Sunday, moments after Chris Newsome hit the title-clinching shot to defeat San Miguel in Game 6.</p><div><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/2024/6/16/meralco-makes-history-clinches-first-franchise-championship-at-smbs-expense-2028">READ: Meralco makes history, clinches first franchise championship at San Miguel’s expense</a></div><p>But while he was vital in their victory of the blue, orange, and white — contrasting to his role in Aldin Ayo’s 2015 mayhem squad wherein he was just an up-and-coming sophomore — Quinto downplayed his performance and instead gave credit to the rest of his teammates which includes his fellow Letranite Raymond Almazan.</p><div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img alt="Former Letran Knights Bong Quinto and Raymond Almazan and San Beda Red Lions Anjo Caram and Kyle Pascual. Photo from Meralco Bolts/Facebook." src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1718705928075IMG_3285.jpeg" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><figcaption>Former Letran Knights Bong Quinto and Raymond Almazan and San Beda Red Lions Anjo Caram and Kyle Pascual. <em>Photo from Meralco Bolts/Facebook</em></figcaption></figure></div><p>&quot;Siyempre, sobrang nakaka-bless [na nakapag contribute ako], pero ginawa namin yun as a team talaga. Pinagtrabahuhan namin yun from the start. Talagang nag invest kami sa preparations namin para sa conference na &#x27;to, kaya ako, alam kong 100% na sobrang deserve namin &#x27;tong championship na &#x27;to,&quot; he said. </p><p>&quot;Meron din kaming mga leaders na pinu-push kami. Sila kuya New [Newsome], kuya [Chris Banchero], kuya Cliff [Hodge], Raymond, Allein [Maliksi], Anjo [Caram], coaching staff, so walang reason para maging tamad kami kasi ginagawa namin &#x27;to para sa isa&#x27;t isa,&quot; he added in another post-game interview.</p><p>However, he admitted that he felt uneasy when June Mar Fajardo hit a rare three-pointer towards the end of Game 6, which gave the perennial powerhouse another chance to stay alive and possibly spoil their party.</p><p>&quot;Yung big shot ni June Mar, sobrang bagsak balikat talaga kami noon. Pero nung nakita kong may three seconds pa, sabi ko, ma-execute lang yung game plan namin, then na-convert naman ni kuya New yung big shot para sa&#x27;min,&quot; he continued. </p><p>The same can be said of how they viewed their chances in the 2024 All-Filipino conference.</p><p>Once at the bottom of the team standings, the Bolts needed to salvage wins towards the end of the eliminations — with one of their triumphs even coming against the erstwhile undefeated SMB — just to book a spot in the quarterfinals. </p><p>&quot;Encouragement ng coach namin, wala namang imposible basta gawin namin yung trabaho namin. Yung preparation namin, grabe talaga. Sa standings namin before, second to the last kami. Ang dami naming pinagdaanan emotionally and physically, so sila coach talagang pinu-push kami,&quot; he explained.</p><p>The same trust was what he also applied way back when he was just a young fan who was able to join and enter the dugouts of the Alaska Aces and the Talk &#x27;N Text Tropang Texters during their 08-09 Finals clash through team utilities Bong Lozano and Dats Lozano. </p><p>&quot;Iba &#x27;to,&quot; he said, describing their win against San Miguel in comparison to that of their upset of San Beda College in 2015. &quot;Kasi bago ako nangarap mag champion sa college at mag champion sa high school, nangarap na &#x27;ko mag champion sa PBA.&quot;</p><p>&quot;Naaalala ko dati, naki-celebrate ako sa championship ng Talk &#x27;N Text. Bata pa lang ako, lagi akong nanonood ng practices nila. First time kong manood ng PBA, Game 5 Alaska vs. Talk &#x27;n Text sa Cuneta [Astrodome]. Sabi ko sa sarili ko, soon, darating din yung time,&quot; he continued, while also giving appreciation to his titos Bong and Dats for guiding him throughout his hoops journey.</p><p>&quot;Malaking part sila ng career ko. Sila yung reason na nakapunta ako ng Letran at nakalaro ako ng pro.&quot;</p><p>That is also why despite coming in as a second-rounder in his rookie draft batch, Quinto&#x27;s belief that he will be able to make it to the top never wavered.</p><div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img alt="Meralco’s Bong Quinto. Photo from PBA Images." src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1718706004016IMG_4239.jpeg" class="fr-fil fr-dib"/><figcaption>Meralco’s Bong Quinto. <em>Photo from PBA Images</em></figcaption></figure></div><p>&quot;Sa drafting naman, may mga opportunities [pa rin] na binibigay sa amin. Nagkataon lang na na-draft ako sa second round, pero sobrang plan ni Lord na maging second round pick ako. Kung ibang team yun, baka hindi pa ako nag champion. Alam ko na plano ng Panginoon na mapunta ako sa Meralco at kasama sa first championship ng Meralco,&quot; he said.</p><p>&quot;Bata pa lang, yun na yong goal namin eh, so sobrang natutuwa lang ako na yung unang championship ko is sa first team ko, Meralco. Talagang ginawa ko lahat para makatulong sa team at sa first championship ng Meralco.&quot;</p><p>And now that he&#x27;s finally a champ once again, Bong said that it&#x27;s now time to relish the glory with his family.</p><p>&quot;Gift ko &#x27;to para sa pamilya ko. Tapos Father&#x27;s Day pa, kahit wala na yung papa ko. Nawala siya nung 2020, pero sobrang ginagawa ko &#x27;to para sa pamilya ko at sa asawa ko,&quot; said Quinto, whose family members flew from overseas to support him in Game 6.</p><div><ivs-player data-ivs-key="e8c22c015ca9eafa76f1e3edfa03c603" data-ivs-spid="3001339" data-ivs-vid="3057502"></ivs-player></div><script src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/js/loader.js"></script>

<p>Championship glory evaded Bong Quinto towards the end of his collegiate stint with Letran and early in his PBA career, but he can now finallly call himself a champ once again.</p>

Championship glory evaded Bong Quinto towards the end of his collegiate stint with Letran and early in his PBA career, but he can now finallly call himself a champ once again.

Finally, Bong Quinto is a champion once again: 'Bata pa lang, 'yun na 'yung goal ko'

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Finally, Bong Quinto is a champion once again: 'Bata pa lang, 'yun na 'yung goal ko'

Romwel Anzures,

ABS-CBN News

Published Jun 18, 2024 07:20 PM PHT

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