Brandon Bates
| No. 33 – Meralco Bolts | |
|---|---|
| Position | Center |
| League | PBA |
| Personal information | |
| Nationality | Filipino / Australian |
| Listed height | 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) |
| Listed weight | 231 lb (105 kg) |
| Career information | |
| College | De La Salle |
| PBA draft | 2023: 1st round, 8th overall pick |
| Selected by the Meralco Bolts | |
| Playing career | 2022–present |
| Career history | |
| 2022–2023 | Sutherland Sharks |
| 2023–present | Meralco Bolts |
| Career highlights and awards | |
Brandon Matthew Bates is a Filipino-Australian basketball player for the Meralco Bolts of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA).
Collegiate career
[edit]Bates played for De La Salle Green Archers men's basketball team starting in 2018. In the first round of his first season (2019), he only averaged 1.8 points on 36% shooting, on top of 7.2 rebounds and 0.6 blocks in 17 minutes of play. He later proved to be a reliable interior defender and rebounder. He scored 10 points, 15 rebounds, and two blocks on an elimination game against UST De La Salle won the game 80–79.[1][2][3] Before leaving La Salle, he averaged 8.43 rebounds.[4]
Professional career
[edit]Australia
[edit]Bates left La Salle to join the Sutherland Sharks of NBL1 in Australia.[4][5]
Meralco Bolts
[edit]Bates got selected by Meralco Bolts in the 2023 PBA draft as 8th overall, but he did not sign a contract earlier because he wanted to go home to Australia.[6]
Sharing play time in centre position with Raymond Almazan, he was seen as an energizer[7] with a shot-blocking ability. He had 6 blocks and 13 rebounds in the Game 7 semifinal match vs. Ginebra in 2024 PBA Philippine Cup.[8][9][10][11] He helped his team to win the first championship against San Miguel Beermen. His most notable game was playing with flu in Game 5 while guarding June Mar Fajardo.[12] Another notable moment was a dunk in Game 6.[13]
PBA career statistics
[edit]| Legend | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | Games played | GS | Games started | MPG | Minutes per game |
| FG% | Field-goal percentage | 3P% | 3-point field-goal percentage | FT% | Free-throw percentage |
| RPG | Rebounds per game | APG | Assists per game | SPG | Steals per game |
| BPG | Blocks per game | PPG | Points per game | Bold | Career high |
As of the end of 2023–24 season[14]
Season-by-season averages
[edit]| Year | Team | GP | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023–24 | Meralco | 30 | 16.8 | .625 | — | .275 | 5.1 | .4 | .3 | 1.3 | 3.5 |
| Career | 30 | 16.8 | .625 | — | .275 | 5.1 | .4 | .3 | 1.3 | 3.5 | |
Personal life
[edit]Bates worked as a barista while studying in La Salle.[7]
References
[edit]- ^ "Brandon Bates proves he's not 'the useless one' at La Salle". Spin.ph. Retrieved June 17, 2024.
- ^ "How La Salle's Bates is turning negatives into positives". ESPN.com. October 24, 2019. Retrieved June 17, 2024.
- ^ Li, Matthew (October 27, 2018). "Brandon Bates shows why he is part of the Green Archers". Tiebreaker Times. Retrieved June 17, 2024.
- ^ a b Co, Chris. "Bates out na sa La Salle". Philstar.com. Retrieved June 17, 2024.
- ^ Abad, Ysa (August 5, 2020). "DLSU's Bates gaining confidence in Aussie semi-pro league". RAPPLER. Retrieved June 17, 2024.
- ^ "COLUMN: Why No. 8 pick Brandon Bates has yet to join Meralco Bolts". Spin.ph. Retrieved June 17, 2024.
- ^ a b "Meralco's Brandon Bates goes from serving coffee to swatting shots". Spin.ph. Retrieved June 17, 2024.
- ^ "Rookie pero palaban! Brandon Bates sasabayan mga higante ng Beermen". June 1, 2024. Retrieved June 17, 2024.
- ^ "Meralco boots out Ginebra in Game 7, makes PBA Finals vs SMB". Spin.ph. Retrieved June 17, 2024.
- ^ "Brandon Bates glad to prove worth for Meralco". Manila Bulletin. Retrieved June 17, 2024.
- ^ TDT (June 2, 2024). "Bates rises to occasion". Daily Tribune. Retrieved June 17, 2024.
- ^ "Brandon Bates fights through flu to help Meralco win Game 5". Spin.ph. Retrieved June 17, 2024.
- ^ Cadayona, Russell. "Unang PBA crown para sa Meralco". Philstar.com. Retrieved June 17, 2024.
- ^ "Brandon Bates Player Profile, Meralco Bolts - RealGM". basketball.realgm.com.