ROBERT Bolick’s chance meeting with NBA legend Dirk Nowitzki was a timely tonic for his grieving heart after his father passed away in the US.
As he shared on his social media account recently, Bolick met Nowitzki on his flight from Dallas to Los Angeles on his way home to Manila to rejoin NLEX's campaign in the PBA 50th Season Philippine Cup.
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Bolick missed two games with the Road Warriors when he went to Texas to grieve his father’s loss, but the pain was somewhat eased when he met the former Dallas Mavericks star in person.
“May plano pa rin ang Panginoon,” Bolick told reporters on Wednesday when asked about his encounter with Nowitzki. “Sa dami dami ng katabi, ako pa.”
Bolick said he had no inkling that he would be seated next to Nowitzki although he knew that he was on the same flight when he saw him at their assigned gate at the airport. The Mavericks star was apparently headed to Los Angeles to be introduced as one of the analysts of Amazon Prime’s coverage of the NBA.
The 30-year-old Bolick got the surprise of his life when Nowitzki was already there seated next to his assigned seat.
“Nakita ko na siya, walang nagpapa-picture. Nasa Dallas kami, wala man lang lumalapit sa kanya. Tapos parang stalker ako, vinivideohan ko, sabi ko sa asawa ko sana makatabi ko ‘to,” said Bolick.
“Nagulat ako pagpasok ko nandoon siya sa upuan ko,” said Bolick.
The NLEX star made the most out of the opportunity not just by taking a selfie with him, but also picking his brains as he told him that he is a professional basketball player in the Philippines.
“Nagtanong siya sa akin kung ano occupation ko. Sabi ko I’m from the Philippines, puwede ba ako magpa-picture? Bakit daw nandoon ako. Nag-usap kami saglit. Papunta daw siyang LA kasi analyst na siya ng Amazon Prime. Usap, kuwento. Ano daw occupation ko. Sabi ko parang may NBA kami sa Pilipinas. PBA ang tawag.”
“Humingi ako ng tips. Sayang, nandito na rin ako. Ang bait. Sinabi niya lahat. Pagkain, workout. Kaya masaya ako kahit papaano,” said Bolick.
Bolick said he has yet to reveal what Nowitzki said to him to his teammates.
“Nagtatanong nga sila. Hindi ko sinasabi. Akin na muna,” said Bolick.
Bolick played his first game with NLEX since his father’s passing on Wednesday when the Road Warriors faced Phoenix. The PBA Mythical First Team member for the 49th Season had a solid showing in his return by producing nine points, seven rebounds, and nine assists in the victory.
Bolick admitted he is still in pain by the passing of his dad who was very close to him.
“Hanging in there,” said Bolick. “Sinusubukan ko lang maglaro para sa erpats ko. Hindi ko pa alam. Basta subukan ko lang. Buti nanalo kami ngayon. Sinubukan ko lang talaga.”
“Ang hirap sobra (ng trip). Hindi ko alam ang mangyayari this conference pero kawawa naman ang mga teammates ko. Pinaghirapan din nila. Alam ko ‘yung tinrabaho namin. As long as nakita nila na ibibigay ko ‘yung kaya ko. Sana as the season goes along, gumagaan na,” said Bolick.
But in that fleeting moment from Dallas to Los Angeles, Bolick's mind was somewhere else.
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