MANILA, Philippines — Meralco active consultant Nenad Vucinic strongly believes the entry of rookie playmaker Jason Brickman is a major addition to the Bolts’ backcourt as they look to compete for the championship in both the East Asia Super League and the PBA.
The Serbian-Kiwi coach considers the shifty Brickman a rookie veteran, given his extensive pro basketball experience that saw him take his act in Russia, Germany, Malaysia, Thailand, Taiwan and the Philippines.
“He (Jason) hasn’t been (practicing) very long with us but one thing you get from an older rookie is the experience,” the 60-year-old Vucinic told the Manila Times.
“He’s smart, and just the overall quality of the player and he’s a good leader in terms of organizing the team, makes the right decisions,” he observed.
Brickman once starred for the Long Island University, the 34-year-old Filipino-American playmaker ended his college career as just one of four players in US NCAA Division 1 history to record 1,000 assists.
He has since brought that pass-first mentality in his over a decade-long pro basketball career that saw him win championships with Westports Malaysia in the ASEAN Basketball League in 2016, Thailand (2017-2019), Taiwan (2022) and just recently, with the Abra Weavers in the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League.
“Jason’s a good pock and roll player, a good passer who can shoot the ball,” shared Vucinic, the five-time New Zealand NBL Coach of the Year.
“I think he’ll be a good addition for us.” Brickman, the team’s seventh overall pick in the 2025 PBA Draft, is set to make his debut in a Meralco uniform on Wednesday when the Bolts host the Japan B.League powerhouse Ryukyu Golden Kings in a crucial EASL game at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.