Solomon Mercado
Encyclopedia
Solomon Jemuel Mercado (born May 6, 1984 in California
) is a Filipino
-American
professional basketball player. He is currently playing for the Meralco Bolts
in the Philippine Basketball Association
. He was originally drafted by the Alaska Aces
as the fifth pick in the 2008 PBA Draft
. However, he was immediately traded to the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters, together with Eddie Laure
for Joe Devance
and the 2009 and 2010 second round picks of Alaska
.
, that year's fist pick overall, and not much hype he scored a record 29 points in his rookie debut game, the highest since Asi Taulava
scored 32 points for Mobiline in his debut. Since then, he slowly became on of the PBA
elite point guards.
, Rain or Shine would have gone farther in the Fiesta Conference. A member of the All-Rookie Team, Mercado finished second to teammate Gabe Norwood
for Rookie of the Year honors. The fifth overall pick in 2008 emerged as the team's top scorer with 13.5 points per game and his 4.5 assists per night did not only lead the team but was also number 6 overall among locals. The only glitch in his rookie season was his 2.9 turnovers per game which ranked seventh overall and led the rookies in that category.
. He was personally handpicked by Rajko Toroman
alongside Kelly Williams
and Asi Taulava
.
, he and Jay-R Reyes
were among the eight players involved in the three-way trade between Meralco, Rain or Shine and Air21 in what was easily one of the biggest trades that happened this past season. Mercado, along with Paolo Bugia
were shipped to the Bolts. He was still able to perform the same way he did with the Elasto Painters. However, it was not enough for the Bolts to past the eliminations of the latter conferences.
| align="left" | 2008-09
| align="left" | Rain or Shine
| 36 || 31.1 || .389 || .263 || .622 || 3.3 || 4.5 || 0.8 || 0.1 || 13.5
|-
| align="left" | 2009-10
| align="left" | Rain or Shine
| 46 || 34.9 || .409 || .307 || .684 || 3.9 || 4.6 || 1.1 || 0.2 || 16.7
|-
| align="left" | 2010-11
| align="left" | Rain or Shine/Meralco
| 29 || 37.1 || .393 || .282 || .592 || 5.0 || 4.8 || 1.1 || 0.2 || 17.7
|-
| align="left" | Career
| align="left" |
| 111 || 34.2 || .398 || .287 || .642 || 4.0 || 4.6 || 1.0 || 0.2 || 15.9
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
) is a Filipino
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
-American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
professional basketball player. He is currently playing for the Meralco Bolts
Meralco Bolts
The Meralco Bolts is a professional basketball team of the Philippine Basketball Association founded in 2010 when the Manila Electric Company bought the Sta...
in the Philippine Basketball Association
Philippine Basketball Association
The Philippine Basketball Association , is a men's professional basketball league in the Philippines composed of 10 company-branded franchised teams. It is the first and oldest professional basketball league in Asia and the second oldest in the world after the NBA...
. He was originally drafted by the Alaska Aces
Alaska Aces (PBA)
The Alaska Aces is a professional basketball team in the Philippine Basketball Association since 1986 under the ownership of the Alaska Milk Corporation and the owner of 13 PBA championships with the 2010 PBA Fiesta Conference as their latest...
as the fifth pick in the 2008 PBA Draft
2008 PBA Draft
The 2008 Philippine Basketball Association Rookie Draft is an event, which will allows teams to draft players from the amateur ranks. The event is set to be held at Market! Market! in Taguig City on August 31, 2008. The Rain or Shine Elasto Painters selected Gabe Norwood of the George Mason...
. However, he was immediately traded to the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters, together with Eddie Laure
Eddie Laure
Eddie B. Laure is a Filipino professional basketball player. He last played in the Philippine Basketball Association for the Powerade Tigers. Known by many as The Dominator, he is a former MBA MVP...
for Joe Devance
Joe Devance
Joe Calvin Devance, Jr. is a Filipino-American professional basketball player in the Philippine Basketball Association who currently plays for the B-Meg Llamados.-Welcoat Dragons:...
and the 2009 and 2010 second round picks of Alaska
Alaska Aces (PBA)
The Alaska Aces is a professional basketball team in the Philippine Basketball Association since 1986 under the ownership of the Alaska Milk Corporation and the owner of 13 PBA championships with the 2010 PBA Fiesta Conference as their latest...
.
Rain or shine (2008)
With all the focus on Gabe NorwoodGabe Norwood
Gabriel Daniel Norwood also known as Gabe Norwood is a Filipino-American professional basketball player and a former NCAA basketball player at George Mason University. Norwood is currently playing for the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters in the Philippine Basketball Association...
, that year's fist pick overall, and not much hype he scored a record 29 points in his rookie debut game, the highest since Asi Taulava
Asi Taulava
Pauliasi M. Taulava also known as Asi Taulava is a American-born Filipino-Tongan professional basketball player playing in the Philippines for the Meralco Bolts in the Philippine Basketball Association....
scored 32 points for Mobiline in his debut. Since then, he slowly became on of the PBA
Philippine Basketball Association
The Philippine Basketball Association , is a men's professional basketball league in the Philippines composed of 10 company-branded franchised teams. It is the first and oldest professional basketball league in Asia and the second oldest in the world after the NBA...
elite point guards.
In the Fiesta Conference 2009
If not for a hamstring injury that sidelined him in a couple of games into their semifinal series against the Barangay Ginebra KingsBarangay Ginebra Kings
The Barangay Ginebra Kings is a professional basketball team of the Philippine Basketball Association founded in 1979 and owned by the Ginebra San Miguel, Inc., a subsidiary of the San Miguel Corporation...
, Rain or Shine would have gone farther in the Fiesta Conference. A member of the All-Rookie Team, Mercado finished second to teammate Gabe Norwood
Gabe Norwood
Gabriel Daniel Norwood also known as Gabe Norwood is a Filipino-American professional basketball player and a former NCAA basketball player at George Mason University. Norwood is currently playing for the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters in the Philippine Basketball Association...
for Rookie of the Year honors. The fifth overall pick in 2008 emerged as the team's top scorer with 13.5 points per game and his 4.5 assists per night did not only lead the team but was also number 6 overall among locals. The only glitch in his rookie season was his 2.9 turnovers per game which ranked seventh overall and led the rookies in that category.
Sophomore Season(Philippine Cup)
He has been the team's cornerstone as he always led the Painters to winning games. Against the Coca-Cola Tigers in a knockout game, he scored 28 points to lead them. But unfortunately they would end up short after losing to the Purefoods Tender Juicy Giants.In the Fiesta Conference 2010
He averaged 17.7 points in the eliminations then had a 45 point outburst against the B-Meg Derby Ace Llamados. In another knock out game against the Tigers, he delivered crucial plays, despite fouling out, in a come from behind win. Against the Llamados in Game 3, he almost recorded a triple double with 16 points 15 assists 9 rebounds. But, in Game 5 of the series, they lose to the Llamados.Smart Gilas
Mercado is also a member of Philippine National Basketball team Smart GilasSmart Gilas
Smart Gilas Pilipinas is a developmental Philippine national basketball team sponsored by Smart Communications and the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas...
. He was personally handpicked by Rajko Toroman
Rajko Toroman
Rajko Toroman is a Serbian professional basketball coach. He is currently the Philippines National Team Project Director for Basketball having been hired by country’s basketball federation Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas...
alongside Kelly Williams
Kelly Williams
Kelly Williams is a Filipino-American professional basketball player currently playing for the Talk 'N Text Tropang Texters in the Philippine Basketball Association...
and Asi Taulava
Asi Taulava
Pauliasi M. Taulava also known as Asi Taulava is a American-born Filipino-Tongan professional basketball player playing in the Philippines for the Meralco Bolts in the Philippine Basketball Association....
.
The Trade to Meralco
Before the start of the 2011 PBA Commissioner's Cup2011 PBA Commissioner's Cup
-Air21-Alaska series:-Talk 'N Text-Air21 series:-Smart Gilas-Barangay Ginebra series:-Finals:- Imports :The following is the list of imports, which had played for their respective teams at least once, with the returning imports in italics...
, he and Jay-R Reyes
Jay-R Reyes
Jay-R Reyes is a Filipino professional basketball player in the Philippine Basketball Association who currently plays for the Alaska Aces.-Rain or Shine:...
were among the eight players involved in the three-way trade between Meralco, Rain or Shine and Air21 in what was easily one of the biggest trades that happened this past season. Mercado, along with Paolo Bugia
Paolo Bugia
Ramon Paolo V. Bugia is a professional basketball player in the Philippine Basketball Association who plays for the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters. He was drafted seventeenth overall by the Red Bull Barako in the 2005 PBA Draft.In his rookie year, He averaged 4.0 points per game and 2.6 rebounds...
were shipped to the Bolts. He was still able to perform the same way he did with the Elasto Painters. However, it was not enough for the Bolts to past the eliminations of the latter conferences.
Season
|-| align="left" | 2008-09
| align="left" | Rain or Shine
| 36 || 31.1 || .389 || .263 || .622 || 3.3 || 4.5 || 0.8 || 0.1 || 13.5
|-
| align="left" | 2009-10
| align="left" | Rain or Shine
| 46 || 34.9 || .409 || .307 || .684 || 3.9 || 4.6 || 1.1 || 0.2 || 16.7
|-
| align="left" | 2010-11
| align="left" | Rain or Shine/Meralco
Meralco Bolts
The Meralco Bolts is a professional basketball team of the Philippine Basketball Association founded in 2010 when the Manila Electric Company bought the Sta...
| 29 || 37.1 || .393 || .282 || .592 || 5.0 || 4.8 || 1.1 || 0.2 || 17.7
|-
| align="left" | Career
| align="left" |
| 111 || 34.2 || .398 || .287 || .642 || 4.0 || 4.6 || 1.0 || 0.2 || 15.9