NLEX made the ultimate sacrifice of lending Robert Bolick to Gilas Pilipinas for the SEA Games 2025. For Bolick, it was all worth it, because it meant getting the gold for the Philippines.
Euphoria quickly turned into disappointment for Robert Bolick on Christmas Day.
Just a week after Gilas Pilipinas’ gold medal win in the SEA Games 2025 against host Thailand, Bolick found his PBA team, NLEX, getting the boot in the ongoing Season 50 Philippine Cup.
As Bolick needed to miss a couple of games owing to his national team duties, the Road Warriors suffered as they failed to make it to the Top Four and secure a twice-to-beat advantage, dropping instead to the eighth seeding in the quarterfinals.
But the NLEX star had no regrets.
“Hindi naman mapapalitan 'yon (SEA Games experience),” said Bolick after his squad's 94-101 loss to No. 1 San Miguel in the quarterfinals Thursday, Dec. 25.
[RELATED STORY: PBA: San Miguel flexes experience over NLEX in semis-clinching win]
NLEX lost three straight games to close the elimination round.
The Beermen, boasting of a win-once edge, did not waste time in disposing of the reeling Road Warriors to cruise to the semifinals.
[RELATED STORY: SCHEDULE, RESULTS | PBA Season 50 Philippine Cup details, where to watch, rosters, and more]
Missed opportunities for NLEX
According to Bolick, failing to secure the playoff bonus was on the Road Warriors, who were in a prime position to win against Terrafirma and Converge in the elims to improve their standings, but could not capitalize.
Bolick missed both games for different reasons: he was in mourning for the death of his father last October when NLEX faced the Dyip and was serving the country through Gilas in the SEA Games this December when his team clashed with the FiberXers.
[RELATED STORY: SEA Games: Robert Bolick says flip-flopping eligibility rules fired up ‘Team C’ Gilas]
“Pero kaya naman nila (even without me). Nandoon na kami, lamang na kami. [Against] Converge, lamang kami. Sa Terrafirma lalo. Hindi namin naipanalo,” Bolick said.
“'Yon ang mga hindi puwedeng mangyari sa batang team kagaya namin. Kasi natalo na namin ang San Miguel [at] Meralco.”
But Bolick could not stay in despair for long, especially with the SEA Games gold that he and his fellow Gilas troops clinched despite a lot of challenges and sacrifices.
[RELATED STORY: Ray Parks Jr. dedicates Gilas’ SEA Games gold to Filipinos amid tough times]
“Iba 'yong gold, eh. Iba ang gold talaga. Ang sarap sa feeling. Araw-araw, tinitingnan ko. Ang sarap sa feeling kasi nga pinagdaanan namin kung paano kami nabuo, kung paano kami nanalo doon. Homecourt pa nila,” Bolick said.
“Ang dami pa ring Pilipinong sumusuporta kahit nasa labas nanonood pa rin. One of the best experiences sa buong buhay ko. Hindi mo mapapalitan 'yon.”
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Like most sportswriters, Jan Ballesteros once dreamed of becoming a professional hooper. But he learned the hard way that it’s not for everyone.
He continues to be involved in the sport he loves, but this time as a member of the PBA Press Corps. Aside from primarily covering the PBA, he is also assigned to cover Gilas Pilipinas.