Solomon Mercado

Solomon Mercado

No. 3 – GlobalPort Batang Pier
Position	Point Guard
League	PBA
Personal information
Born	(1984-05-06) May 6, 1984 California, United States
Nationality	United States
Listed height	6 ft 0 in (183 cm)
Listed weight	185 lb (84 kg)
Career information
College	Biola University
PBA draft	2008 / Pick: 5th overall
Selected by the Alaska Aces
Pro playing career	2008–present
Career history
Rain or Shine Elasto Painters (2008-2010) Meralco Bolts (2010-2013)
Career highlights and awards
2008-09 PBA All Rookie Team 2-Time PBA All-Star (2010, 2012)

Solomon Jemuel Mercado (born May 6, 1984 in California) is a Filipino-American professional basketball player. He is currently playing for the GlobalPort Batang Pier 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.

PBA career

Rain or shine (2008)

With all the focus on Gabe Norwood, that year's first 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 one of the PBA 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 Kings, 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.

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 Gilas. He was personally handpicked by Rajko Toroman alongside Kelly Williams and Asi Taulava.

The Trade to Meralco

Before the start of the 2011 PBA Commissioner's Cup, 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.

The Trade to GlobalPort

Before the start of the 2013 PBA Commissioner's Cup, he along with Kelly Nabong, Jaypee Belencion and Yousif Aljamal were traded to GlobalPort Batang Pier for Rey Guevarra, Vic Manuel, Josh Vanlandingham and 2015 first round pick.

Statistics

Correct as of January 10, 2013^[1]

PBA Season

RP Team Statistics

^[2]

References