With an oversupply of guards led by Chris Banchero, Aaron Black, Anjo Caram, Kurt Reyson and Jason Brickman, the Meralco Bolts may need a reliable wing player to help Chris Newsome and CJ Cansino. However, the possible upside of Cole Micek cannot be ignored and the Bolts may want to take a chance on him.
Some fans may have brushed off Micek as another pretty boy chasing his hoop dreams or some showbiz guy suddenly aspiring to be a professional athlete. However, his basketball resumé is not easy to ignore.
The 6-foot-1 guard of St. Francis (Illinois) Fighting Saints in the NCAA Division 1 averaged 10.7 points, 1.7 rebounds, 0.7 assists and 34.8 percent from the floor dueing the 2019-2020 season. After he moved to the University of St. Francis Red Flash in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), his performance improved further by averaging 12.9 points, 2.6 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 44.6 percent field goals.
Micek has also sharpened his craft in the 3×3 circuit, and was most recently with the Macau Black Bears in The Asian Tournament, and during the FIBA Asia Cup tuneup against Gilas Pilipinas last July at the SMART Araneta Coliseum.
Cole also pointed out the impact of 3×3 basketball toward his overall game.
"Being a 3×3 player, you have to have a really high basketball IQ. Also, it’s really improved my defense, you have to guard everybody. The big guys are trying to push you up and you have to be physical and tough. I think that really correlates with Philippine basketball," he said.
During the 2025 PBA Draft, Micek was selected in the third round (34th overall) by the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters to join their overloaded draft haul. Unfortunately, Micek was left unsigned after a week because the team has no more roster spots.
With the Bolts not renewing the contracts of Jose Mendoza, Diego Dario, Alvin Pasaol and Norbert Torres, Micek might be someone they could consider to fill the holes.
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