Following a Southeast Asian Games championship victory months prior, Robert Bolick is gearing up for another chance to suit up for the Philippines as Gilas Pilipinas aims to protect its Asian Games crown.
Much like the all-Filipino squad that competed without a naturalized player during December’s SEA Games, Bolick remains optimistic that an all-local roster can repeat history at the Asiad.
“Sa SEA Games namin, walang import tapos walang expectation na mag-gold kami. Ngayon wala na namang import, baka masuwerte na naman kami,” he said in a press conference.
The national team faces the possibility of playing without an import once again, as naturalized star Justin Brownlee continues to rehabilitate from multiple injuries.
“So hopefully, ‘pag makuha naming gold ‘to, medyo magandang … ‘di lang para sa akin, para sa team, baka hindi kami makatulog pag nangyari ‘yun. Pero ‘yun ‘yung expectation din namin na sana mag-gold kami kaya namin nandito.”
Drawing from his extensive international stint—which includes a run with Gilas Pilipinas at the 2019 FIBA World Cup—Bolick emphasized his eagerness to exchange knowledge with the squad’s younger core.
“Masaya ako na may matutuhan sa kanila. Hopefully, may matutuhan sila sa akin. Hopefully, ang anuman ang pagtrabahuhan namin, manalo kami.”
Gilas Pilipinas kicks off its Asian Games gold medal defense on Friday, September 11.