NLEX coach Jimmy Alapag made sure to support Robert Bolick in his Gilas Pilipinas stint with encouraging words following the national team’s disappointing results in two tuneup matches.
Alapag said he reached out to Bolick after the close of the Hana Bank Invitational where the Philippines lost to Korea by an average margin of 26.5 points in the lead-up to the 20th Asian Games.
“I reached out to him after the second tuneup game against Korea. I just told him to keep his head up and to keep the guys together,” Alapag said following the Road Warriors' own 109-107 loss to Blackwater in the PBA on Tour in San Jose del Monte, Bulacan.
Alapag said the tuneup games have a purpose and their results are not necessarily a true indication of the quality of this Gilas lineup.
“It’s tough when you lose tuneup games, but that’s what they are for, just to find ways to improve. I think for that team in particular, for them to just build some chemistry and camaraderie before the tournament starts in Nagoya,” he said.
Gilas Berto
NLEX lead guard Bolick is one of the expected leaders in the Philippine team, which is different from the 'main' squad that competes in FIBA tournaments.
READ: JB, Kai absence hurts but Guiao still has high hopes for Gilas
And Alapag has full faith that the Gilas Asian Games side will turn the corner, as they begin their title defense on Friday against Bahrain.
“I’m still confident that him and the guys will go out there and represent the flag proudly for the country. But they have a tough road ahead of them," said Alapag, who also competed in the Asiad in 2014 in Incheon, Korea.
“But I just want to let them know that all of us here are rooting for them and supporting them.”
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph
NOTICE ON UNAUTHORIZED AND UNLAWFUL USE, PUBLICATION, AND/OR DISSEMINATION OF SPIN.PH CONTENT: Please be notified that any unauthorized and unlawful use, publication, and/or dissemination of Spin.ph’s content and/or materials is a direct violation of its legal and exclusive rights to the same, and shall be subject to appropriate legal action/s.
