Throwback: Meralco Bolts Once Have The Twin Towers

In the early years of Meralco Bolts as a basketball franchise, there was a lot of development and player movements. One of the most significant ones happened in 2010 when Meralco, then youngest franchise in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA), came to have two of the league's tallest and oldest frontliners in its squad: Marlou Aquino and Asi Taulava.

You heard it right. The two 6-foot-9 twin towers shared playing minutes every game for the Bolts after they agreed on a three-team, multi-player trade that involved Powerade, Barako Bull, forwards Jason Misolas, Ken Bono, Rob Reyes, and a 2013 second-round pick.

Taulava teamed up with the explosive Mac-Mac Cardona in forming up the Bolts' 1-2 punch. Taulava, who was earlier allowed by the PBA to join the RP-Smart Gilas national developmental team to the Asian Games, headed back to a squad owned by businessman/sportsman Manny V. Pangilinan.

Taulava played for Mobiline/Talk N Text from 1999 until the 2007-2008 PBA season when he was traded to the Coca-Cola Tigers in exchange for Ali Peek.

Reyes, a young 6-foot-5 forward, will go to the Tigers together with the 2013 second-round pick. The Energy Boosters, who acted as conduit, will get Misolas and Bono. Rob (Reyes) was not the player whom everyone expect to fill up the spot vacated by Asi, but at the step was taken with an eye for a rebuilding for the future.

"I see good potential in Rob. We may be a step backwards right now, but I am sure we will be few steps forward in the future," Coach Bo Perasol told reporters back then. Meralco team manager Virgil Villavicencio also said in a follow-up telephone interview that he does not have any knowledge on the details of the trade, but confirmed that the squad has indeed acquired Taulava.

Looking back at their games, both Marlou and Asi were able to help Meralco compete, but age was clearly a big factor that hindered the squad from reaching new height. The then 37-year-old Taulava, who won the Most Valuable Player award in 2002, was still the PBA's leading rebounder, averaging 11.4 caroms per game while also norming 11.2 points.

However, signs of the changing of the guards was eminent. Jayson Castro, Ranidel de Ocampo, Calvin Abueva, Arwind Santos, Mark Pingris, Gary David, Paul Lee and June Mar Fajardo have all emerged as the new faces of the league as they dominate the games.