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Tag: Jason Brickman

  • Jason Brickman begins PBA chapter after quiet Meralco debut

    Jason Brickman begins PBA chapter after quiet Meralco debut

    Jason Brickman’s long-awaited PBA arrival came without fireworks — just a short stint, a quick lesson, and the start of what Meralco hopes will be a steady evolution.

     

    In an 88-79 loss to Japan’s Ryukyu Golden Kings to close out the EASL Home and Away Season 3 group stage at Smart Araneta Coliseum, Brickman finally checked into a game wearing a Meralco jersey. The moment arrived at the 6:14 mark of the first quarter. Seven minutes later, it was over.

    No points. One assist. One three-point attempt.

     

    But beyond the stat sheet, the night marked his first real step into the PBA landscape.

     

    The 34-year-old Fil-Am guard, selected seventh overall in the most recent PBA Draft, joined the Bolts less than two weeks ago after wrapping up a championship run in the MPBL with the Abra Solid North Weavers. The quick turnaround left little time for full integration, and it showed.

     

    Meralco quickly found itself trailing by as many as 20 in the second half, limiting opportunities for experimentation. Brickman never returned after his initial first-quarter stint, still learning the timing, spacing, and rhythm of Luigi Trillo’s system.

     

    “I’m enjoying playing for the team so far. We only have a few practices, but it’s good to be on board with the team,” said Brickman.

     

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    For a player long regarded as a traditional floor general — known for his passing vision and composure — the adjustment phase may take time. Chemistry, especially for point guards, cannot be rushed. Every set call, every defensive rotation, every subtle read must become instinctive.

    Trillo acknowledged as much.

     

    “Jason is still new and doesn’t know (sometimes) what he’s doing. He hasn’t had some time with us,” said the Meralco coach.

     

    The candid assessment reflects the reality of Brickman’s situation. After celebrating a maiden MPBL title, he barely paused before signing a one-year deal with the Bolts — shifting leagues, teammates, and systems in the span of weeks.

     

    Yet patience remains the theme inside the Meralco camp.

     

    “He hasn’t had any games (with us). But he’ll get there. Jason Brickman will get there,” Trillo added.

     

    For now, Brickman’s debut will be remembered less for numbers and more for context — a veteran guard stepping into unfamiliar territory, starting from scratch in a league he has long circled but only now entered.

     

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  • Jason Brickman joins Meralco: Luigi Trillo hails new “Asian John Stockton”

    Jason Brickman joins Meralco: Luigi Trillo hails new “Asian John Stockton”

    Patience has paid off for Meralco—and for Jason Brickman.

     

    Five months after being selected seventh overall in the 2025 PBA Rookie Draft, Brickman has officially inked a contract with the Bolts, finally allowing the six-foot point guard to focus solely on his PBA career. 

     

    His commitment had been delayed due to his ongoing contract with the Abra Weavers in the MPBL, where he played a pivotal role in their sweep of the Quezon Huskers during last year’s Finals.

     

    Coach Luigi Trillo couldn’t hide his excitement. “He’s like the Asian John Stockton if you think about it,” Trillo said via phone interview with the Inquirer. “He knows where to make his passes. I’m really happy that he signed.” 

     

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    Trillo admitted that there were initial doubts about selecting Brickman at seventh in the draft. But watching him orchestrate the Abra Weavers’ offense changed that perspective. “We took the risk of selecting him at seven… He’s a top player and an experienced player,” Trillo added.

     

    Brickman made his Meralco debut on February 11 in a high-stakes matchup against the Ryuku Golden Kings in the East Asia Super League (EASL). 

     

    Though he didn’t score in his seven minutes on the court, his presence as a floor general adds depth and poise to Meralco’s backcourt—a skill set Trillo believes could be a game-changer in the PBA.

     

    With Brickman now fully on board, Meralco is banking on his vision, leadership, and championship experience to lift the team in the upcoming Commissioner’s Cup, proving that sometimes, patience and calculated risk-taking can set the foundation for long-term success.

     

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  • Nenad Vucinic sees Jason Brickman as a key addition for Meralco ahead of their do-or-die EASL clash

    Nenad Vucinic sees Jason Brickman as a key addition for Meralco ahead of their do-or-die EASL clash

    For Meralco, the equation is brutally clear: win big or go home.

     

    With a historic East Asia Super League playoff berth on the line, the Bolts are pushing all their chips to the center of the table for a do-or-die showdown against the Ryukyu Golden Kings on Wednesday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, the final day of the EASL Home and Away Season 3 group stage.

     

    At the heart of Meralco’s high-stakes gamble is rookie guard Jason Brickman. The Bolts are entrusting their Season 50 first-round pick with the biggest game of their EASL campaign, banking on the newcomer’s poise and experience to steady the ship in a matchup that offers zero margin for error.

     

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    Brickman teams up with import Cady Lalanne, who was tapped to replace the injured Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, as part of a short-term reinforcement move aimed squarely at this playoff push. Both players are on loan from NLEX and will be immediately inserted into a veteran-laden rotation that includes Justin Brownlee, Ismael Romero, Sina Vahedi, CJ Cansino, Chris Banchero, Cliff Hodge, Aaron Black, Brandon Bates, Bong Quinto, and Raymond Almazan.

     

    Meralco is also hoping for a timely boost from Chris Newsome, who is working his way back from an MCL injury that sidelined him late in the Philippine Cup semifinals.

     

    Bolts consultant Nenad Vucinic has been vocal about his confidence in Brickman, describing the rookie as a key addition to the backcourt.

     

    “Jason hasn’t been practicing very long with us but one thing you get from an older rookie is the experience. He is smart, and just the overall quality of the player and he is a good leader in terms of organizing the team, makes the right decisions,” Vucinic said.

     

    Brickman, 34, starred at Long Island University in the NCAA, where he remains one of only four players in Division I history to tally 1,000 assists. He is no stranger to Philippine basketball, having previously suited up for San Miguel Alab Pilipinas and competing in the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL).

    “Jason’s a good pick and roll player, a good passer who can shoot the ball. I think he will be a good addition for us,” Vucinic added.

     

    Head coach Luigi Trillo echoed that sentiment, emphasizing that Brickman’s age was never a deterrent during the draft process.

     

    “Jason fell in the draft to us at the seventh pick, and although we had the oldest team in the PBA at the time of the draft, when you round off our team’s age, we still chose to draft him despite his age. We had to draft Jason and take that risk because of his body of work as a pro,” Trillo said.

     

    “He is an experienced veteran, so he’s not exactly a rookie. It’s kind of like Caelan Tiongson of Rain or Shine, who fell to sixth in the draft because of his age din. He brings a lot to the table.

     

    “Hopefully, he can adjust right away and adapt to the PBA, EASLs, and BCL’s type of play. In the PBA there are a lot of the top teams that have a lot of depth in their lineup. We have to try to keep at pace and I think Jason’s decision making on the court elevates our team decision making. He makes our roster now have more depth,” he concluded.

     

    Still, Ryukyu looms as a formidable roadblock. The Golden Kings ride a four-game winning streak into the clash and already hold an 81-72 victory over Meralco from their earlier meeting in Okinawa.

     

    And for the Bolts, simply winning won’t suffice.

     

    Meralco must defeat Ryukyu by at least six points to stay alive. A win by five or fewer ends their campaign, as does a loss. A 20-point blowout, however, would dramatically alter the standings—catapulting the Bolts to the top seed in Group B and forcing Ryukyu and Taoyuan into a quotient battle for the final quarterfinal berth.

     

    Anything less would add another painful near-miss to Meralco’s long pursuit of an EASL breakthrough. On Wednesday night, the Bolts won’t just be facing an opponent—they’ll be up against the numbers, the moment, and the weight of history.

     

     

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