Phl rookies soak in World Cup experience

FOSHAN – Gilas rookies CJ Perez and Robert Bolick aren’t shying away from the biggest basketball stage on the planet. It’s their first appearance with the national team in the FIBA World Cup here and they’re out to make a splash.

Bolick, 23, is Gilas’ youngest player but while experience isn’t on his side, youth and a winning tradition are. “I never accept losing,” he said. “I’m the type of player who likes challenges. If things go wrong, I never ask God why. I’ve won championships in the NCAA, UAAP, Filoil Flying V and PBA D-League. At La Salle, I hardly played but I never questioned why. I know it’s nothing personal, just circumstances where I didn’t fit in the coaching system. I moved on and wanted to prove myself, to show my winning mentality.”

In the PBA, Bolick is making waves as a NorthPort rookie, hitting big shots, creating big plays. His performance opened the door for an invitation to try out for Gilas. It led to a training camp in Spain on his first Europe trip. “I learned a lot,” he said. “I’m blessed to be with the best players in the country. It was fun in Spain but it was also hard work. This is about gaining experience and I think it’s through experience that you excel. There isn’t one thing I’d like to improve on. I want to be better in everything from shooting to ballhandling to defense. I’m never satisfied with my game. I think the day I’m satisfied is the day I’ll retire from playing.”

With Gilas, Bolick said he’s honing his skills as a point guard but with coach Yeng Guiao’s system, playing other positions is an evolving thing. “I’ve been a point guard ever since,” said Bolick whose father Robert, Sr. is a retired US Air Force man living in Ormoc with his mother Zeny. “But with coach Yeng, we’re expected to play multiple positions so I can shift to two or maybe even three.”

Against Serbia, Bolick said he’s anticipating to lock horns with 6-5 Stefan Jovic and maybe even, 6-6 Bogdan Bogdanovic. “I want to give my best, no matter whom I’m defending, whether he’s an NBA player or not,” he said. “If he’s better, does he have the same heart as me? All I know is I’m going out there to play my best, to play to win.”

Perez, 25, said moving from La Salle to San Sebastian to Ateneo and finally, to Lyceum was a test. “It’s all about timing and patience,” he said. “I went to different schools. I owe the Estrella family of Pangasinan for giving me an opportunity to play for La Salle. After four months with La Salle, they let me go because there was a deficiency in my high school credits. So I went to San Sebastian. After a few weeks, La Salle called me back but it was too late. I played for coach Topex (Robinson) at San Sebastian for two years then I was recruited by Ateneo. In the end, I went back to coach Topex at Lyceum. That was when people started to know who CJ is. I got lucky because coach Topex gave me the opportunity. I owe him a lot and also Henry Solomon, the Rain or Shine utility who took care of me.”

Perez never knew his father who is Nigerian. “I don’t know his name, I don’t know what he looks like,” he said in Pilipino. “I was born in Hong Kong. Now my mother lives in Pangasinan. I never expected to be a big scorer in the PBA. Up to now, I can’t believe it. In the PBA, my goal is to make my team Columbian a title contender. That’s what I hope to achieve with my teammates.”

Perez said he’s looking forward to playing Serbia tomorrow. He may be matched up against Bogdanovic who’s with the Sacramento Kings. “I know he’s an NBA player but I’ll be ready,” he said. “Kakayanin ko ‘yan.”

Perez said he’s hoping to carry over his experience in this World Cup to 2023 when the Philippines hosts the next conclave if he’s given the chance to play for Gilas again. The China tournament is his third international exposure after the 3x3 in Qatar and the FIBA Asia Challenge Cup in Iran. Like Bolick, the recent trip to Spain was his first to Europe.

Bolick and Perez personify the future of Gilas. They’re young, talented, motivated and dedicated to playing at the highest level. The outlook for Philippine basketball can only be bright with Bolick and Perez leading the way for the next generation of hardcourt heroes.