NorthPort head coach Pido Jarencio didn’t hide his worry over the possibility of missing Robert Bolick for a while due to his Gilas Pilipinas involvement.
The 26-year-old may not see action in the Batang Pier’s PBA Governors’ Cup matches next week, as it will coincide with the FIBA World Cup 2023 Asian Qualifiers’ second window at the SMART Araneta Coliseum.
Unlike in the past, the league isn’t taking any break for the global tilt as it doesn’t want any more disruptions to the pandemic-hit season.
The Batang Pier will take on Magnolia on February 24, then Phoenix two days later. The Big Dome Qualifiers are scheduled from the 24th to the 28th.
Photo by PBA Images
“Ang problema ko lang ngayon, parang may conflict kay Robert ngayon, which is sa Gilas,” admitted the veteran mentor moments after NorthPort’s breakthrough win over the erstwhile unbeaten Meralco, Wednesday.
Bolick joined the program while in the midst of his contract negotiations with his team, and was eventually named part of the 21-man pool.
The San Beda great could possibly see action in the window, where Gilas will take on bitter rivals South Korea, New Zealand, and India.
If ever that happens, and even if the Batang Pier will badly miss his services, Jarencio understands that nothing’s more important than the call of duty.
Well, the former cager surely knows that kind of responsibility, for he was part of the fabled NCC team that ruled the 1985 Asian Basketball Confederation Championship — the last Asian hoops title of the country.
“It’s a call eh. National duty ‘yan eh. Talagang ‘pag may tawag ang national team, hindi ka puwedeng humindi diyan kasi dala mo ‘yung bansa,” he said.
“Bansa ang pinag-uusapan. Management is also supporting Gilas.”
And, perhaps, there could be another viable option for NorthPort if it really won’t have Bolick for its next two assignments.
“Siguro kukuha na lang kami ng ka-clone ni Robert,” said the ever-humorous coach, drawing laughter from press members.
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