Who is Jolo Mendoza?

In the first game of the Meralco Bolts in the 49th Season Governor's Cup last 18 August, one player made an impressive performance that raised not a few eyebrows. After team mate Chris Banchero drained a historic first four-point shot, Jolo Mendoza sank the second four-point shot to help the Bolts secore a 99-94 win against the Magnolia Hotshots.

Mendoza went 3-of-3 from the arc and finish the game with 13 points, a much needed contribution in the absence of ace shooter Alein Maliksi. Who is Jolo Mendoza?

When he was five years old, Mendoza was already playing competitive basketball. During his prep years, he was already representing Ateneo along with the Nieto brothers in various competitions.

Mendoza started his basketball career within his family, as his father, Jig Mendoza, played for the University of the Philippines and is currently a coach of the Phoenix Fuel Masters in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA). His early exposure to the sport made him fall in love with it.

Aside from his relatives who taught him how to play basketball, Mendoza mentions NBA star Dwayne Wade as his other source of inspiration in the game.

"I like his early stint in the NBA because he really was the cat-quick guard, I like his aggressiveness and his mentality," said Mendoza whose aggressive playing style does compare to the shooting guard for the Chicago Bulls.

Mendoza has donned the Blue and White ever grade school, but he also boasts of international experience. He was part of the Batang Gilas Team that qualified for the FIBA World Championship after finishing as the runner-up to China in the FIBA Asia Under-16 tournament back in 2013. That was the first time that the national youth team qualified for FIBA World Championship.

When he was a rookie playing in the University Athletics Association of the Philippines (UAAP) seniors level for the Blue Eagles in 2017, Jolo describes his first game as the most memorable experience saying: "When I got on the court it was amazing. I couldn’t describe the feeling. I was nervous and excited at the same time. And to be able to score in the first game was really memorable for me."

He also describes the college atmosphere to be different from the high school level. The crowd for him is more supportive in every game as compared to the UAAP juniors games, where people only watch the semifinals and finals game. For him, the college crowd helps with the energy on the court.

In his rookie season, Mendoza has exhibited the skills he has in his arsenal as a scorer. After playing 13 games this season, he leads the team in three-point percentage (55.6%) while averaging 4.3 points in 8 minutes a game. Despite his gaudy sharpshooting percentage in limited playing time, Mendoza still feels that he needs to be more consistent in his play.

"It’s been roller coaster ride, I’ve had good game and not so good games. I’m enjoying the experience and enjoying the feeling," says Mendoza.

Mendoza aims to further improve his ball handling ability because his size demands for him to handle the point guard position in the professional level, rather than playing in his natural position as the shooting guard in the past. As the point guard, he knows that the team will rely on him more often to handle and distribute the ball especially as his role grows with the team.

Mendoza was signed up by the Converge FiberXers for the PBA on Tour in 2023, a year after his final UAAP season ended in disappointment both on individual and team levels.

He hardly got playing time in Season 84, and the Blue Eagles were dethroned at the buzzer by JD Cagulangans' historic triple.

He next set his eyes on the 2023 PBA Draft.

"Let's see. I hope I get drafted and have a good career," he said. "But it's hard to say. It's not like one game is gonna set my career. (There is) still a long way."

The Meralco Bolts picked the 5-foot-9 guard as their second pick (32nd overall) after choosing Brandon Bates as their first pick at number 8.

Coach Luigi Trillo showed he has confidence on Mendoza's shooting when the guard was sent in with seven seconds remaining in the one of team’s game last year to be one of the options to take a possible game-winning basket. Unfortunately, the shot rattled out.

Mendoza has been under the radar for some time until his breakout performance last Sunday.