Robert Bolick dismissed speculations regarding his recent whereabouts and insisted that his commitment remains with NorthPort.
The Batang Pier star was rumored to have already left the country early this month and join a growing list of Filipino talents to play overseas after his contract expired last January 31, but said that his current ball club will always be his priority.
“Nakakatawa lang ‘yung mga speculations. Nasa bahay lang ako,” he told reporters with a smile moments after NorthPort’s loss to Ginebra in the PBA Governors’ Cup, Friday night at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay.
“Na-injure ako, na-ACL, nandyan sila. Pandemic andyan sila. Kailangan bigyan mo rin ‘yon ng importansya. Sila ‘yung priority ko. After ng season, kung ano man mangyari, priority ko sila … dito ako na-draft eh. Happy ako dito.”
Bolick returned to action against the Kings after missing the Batang Pier’s first four matches in the conference due to the contract stalemate. This was already the second time since last year that it had happened between the two camps.
The San Beda legend eventually came back and that’s after signing a conference-long deal just days prior to their meeting with the reigning champions, and would just resume the negotiations after the season.
“Nagkataon lang talaga na expiry ako. Ganun naman sa kontrata, hindi lang sa basketball. ‘Di ba kahit sa NBA, kahit saang liga, mga trabaho, hindi naman kaagad ‘pag nag-usap, okay na kayo kaagad,” he said.
“Siyempre, may mga usapan ‘yan. Siyempre, boss namin dito sa NorthPort, busy din yang mga ‘yan, may mga negosyong malalaki ‘yan.
“Usap-usap, medyo ‘di kami nagkakaano, pero ok lang, ganun talaga e. Sabi namin mas maganda after season na lang para maka-focus kami sa season. Ganun ginawa namin,” added the 27-year-old.
Bolick could only breathe a sigh of relief as he can now focus solely on helping the Batang Pier turn things around in the Governors’ Cup.
Proof of this was Friday night’s match, dropping 30 points, five rebounds, and three assists although his squad could not complete the upset and ultimately bowed to the Kings, 115-100, to absorb their fifth loss in as many games.
Still, hope isn’t lost on Bolick and Co. as they all want to break through, and more importantly, give head coach Bonnie Tan his first PBA win.
“Basta andito ako sa NorthPort, happy ako dito, may season pa kami kahit 0-5 kami. Nangyari na sa’min ‘to tas nakabawi kami. ‘di kami susuko,” he said.
“Bibigyan namin ng magandang season si Boss Bonnie [Tan] kasi deserve niya ‘yon, paano siya magtrabaho, paano magtrabaho staff namin. Medyo kinapos lang talaga kami ngayon. Next game, hopefully medyo fluid na kami.”
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The second game of each PBA gameday is live-streamed on SMART Sports.
