The story of how Robert Bolick ended up in this batch of Gilas has been told numerous times.
Wanting to play for the national team, the 26-year-old combo guard out of Ormoc decided to re-up with his PBA team Northport so he can gain clearance from the league to the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas.
From there, he immediately reported to Gilas with no expectations.
Photo from Northport
“Wala kong expectation talaga,” he recalled. “Sobrang happy lang ako na binigyan ako ng opportunity ni Coach Chot tsaka ng Gilas at mag-represent muli ng flag natin at makapaglaro ulit. Sobrang thankful ako na napagbigyan ako ng opportunity.
“Kahit saang laro, basta Gilas, kahit saan, never ako hihindi rito kasi for flag na ito, for our country. Walang chance na hihindian ko yung mga ganitong klase. Kahit anong laro pa ito, basta Gilas, lalaruan ko yan.”
Bolick ended up being lined up in Gilas’ two games in the Quezon City window of the 2023 FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers.
Though going 1-1, the 6-foot guard out of San Beda is just glad to have gotten win no. 1 after going winless in his Gilas debut during the 2019 World Cup in China.
Photo from FIBA.basketball
“Masaya ako dahil first win, dito pa. First Gilas ko, World Cup kagad. Hindi man lang ako nakadaan kahit sa SEA Games. So, yun talo kami lahat dun,” he recalled.
“Dito gusto ko makabawi kahit makaisa lang para sa harap ng kababayan natin.”
Bolick eventually ended up with averages of 10.0 points and 2.5 rebounds during the window.
More than the win, he is also glad to have played alongside his peers Thirdy Ravena and Dwight Ramos for the first time.
(C) Paul Ryan Tan/FIBA Asia
“Masaya naman kasi madami na rin silang experience. Nakapaglaro na sila sa Japan at medyo mas experienced pa nga sila sa laro dito dahil iba yung larong professional dito e,” said Bolick, who himself has dreams of one day playing overseas. “FIBA at Japan halos same yung laruan so that’s nothing new for them. Sa amin, kailangan pa namin mag-adjust — fast-paced yung laro, 10 minutes per quarter, pati sa tawagan, style of play. Lahat ‘yan nanibago kami.
“Mas masaya dahil may kasama kami na sanay sa ganung laro at sila nagbigay sa amin ng ganung idea.”
And he is yearning for more, committing himself to Gilas for the rest of his career.
“No question na yan. Kahit ngayon pa lang, sasabihin ko na sa kanya na gusto ko maglaro. Yan yung pinakamataas na basketball na puwede natin paglaruan,” he said about the World Cup next year. “Buong mundo na yung kalaban tapos dito pa sa atin. Pinagiisipan ko na nga ngayon yun na sana mabigyan tayo ng opportunity makapaglaro ulit dun.
“Pero ang daming puwedeng mangyari. Injuries, decision ni coach pero kung tanungin mo ko, talagang hindi ko hihindian yan kahit SEA Games o Jones Cup. Wala ka sa right mind paghihindian mo yan.”
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