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| Robert Bolick chooses Gilas over everything else even if NLEX is looking to seal a Top 4 finish in the PBA Philippine Cup elims. POC Media Pool (file photo) |
BANGKOK—Robert Bolick has set aside team success back home in the PBA for a shot at winning gold in the 33rd Southeast Asian Games.
With Gilas Pilipinas in the semifinals of men’s basketball here, Bolick will be looking to carry whatever he started for NLEX in the ongoing Philippine Cup and retain the country’s supremacy in this regional showpiece.
“Siyempre country, ito muna. Priority ito,” Bolick said before Gilas got its campaign going.
NLEX was among the top teams of the All-Filipino tournament at 6-2 before he skipped the next three games for flag and country.
Bolick is one of five PBA players who accepted the call to represent the country for the biennial meet, when Gilas was forced to make quick decisions in its composition following Thailand’s decision to ban naturalization players and those who were failed to secure a passport before the age of 16.
Before the decision, Gilas formed a pool on the impression that the passport-only rule was already approved in writing.
Coach Norman Black was able to secure the commitments of Bolick, Blackwater’s Dalph Panopio and Abu Tratter and Titan Ultra’s Von Pessumal, before TNT’s Poy Erram came in as a last-minute replacement for the injured Allen Liwag.
“Hindi naman talaga kami nakalineup pero ‘yun nga nagkaproblema,” he said. “Tinanong NLEX kung pwede ako, tinanong ako kung pwede ako. Siyempre, for the country bakit hindi?”
“Happy ako na pinayagan din ako ni NLEX team governor Ronald Dulatre at ni coach Jong Uichico. Binigyan ako ng opportunity na ma-represent ang country,” said Bolick.
Bolick has been a key source of strength for Gilas through two hard-fought wins over Malaysia and Vietnam, and is expected to do the same for the semifinals.
The Philippines will play either Vietnam or Indonesia in the semifinals on Thursday at Nimibutr Stadium here.
