Meralco Reddy Kilowatts

This article is about the original MERALCO basketball team. For the PBA team, see Meralco Bolts. For the electricity mascot, see Reddy Kilowatt.

The MERALCO Reddy Kilowatts was a basketball team owned by the Manila Electric Company (MERALCO) that played in the basketball tournament of 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.

In 1968, MERALCO was re-admitted in the Manila Industrial and Commercial Athletic Association (MICAA). Its basketball 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.

With 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 during the 1971 MICAA All-Filipino championship, 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. The suspensions were lifted through the efforts of Presidential Assistant Guillermo “Gimo” de Vega in time for the 1973 FIBA Asia Championship.

The Reddy Kilowatts won one MICAA championship in the 1971 MICAA Open, where it defeated Crispa, 65-58, at the Araneta Coliseum. The Redmanizers of coach Baby Dalupan were led by Jun Papa, Danny Florencio, imports Tom Cowart and Paul Scranton, and rookie Bogs Adornado. This was MERALCO's only basketball title since rejoining the MICAA in 1968.

The team disbanded in early 1973 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.

Rosters

1971 Champion team

Meralco Reddy Kilowatts roster
Players	Coaches
Pos. # Nat. Name Ht. Wt. F/C 4 Reynoso, Alberto 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 220 lb (100 kg) G 5 Salonga, Bobby 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) 165 lb (75 kg) F 6 Mariano, Jimmy 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 160 lb (73 kg) G 7 Jaworski, Robert 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 185 lb (84 kg) G 8 Arnaiz, Francis 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) 162 lb (73 kg) G 9 Bauzon, Orlando 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 180 lb (82 kg) 10 Arazas, Engracio G 11 Marquez, Alfonso 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) F 12 Salvador, Jumbo 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) 13 Ross, Jun G 15 Mumar, Lawrence 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) 135 lb (61 kg) F 16 Lucindo, Ramon 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 170 lb (77 kg) G/F 18 Acuña, Fort 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 185 lb (84 kg) C 20 Presley, Bob (I) 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) C Greenfield, Carl (I) 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)	Head coach Lauro Mumar Legend (C) Team captain Injured

Other notable players

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

Imports

• Don Griffin
• Tine Hardeman

Coaches

• Felicisimo Fajardo (1967)
• Valentin Eduque (1968-1970)
• Lauro Mumar (1970-1972)

Team manager

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

See also

• Meralco Bolts
• Loyola Meralco Sparks F.C.
• Meralco Power Spikers