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FIBA World Cup: No rivalry, as Perez and Bolick team up for flag, country

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Camille B. Naredo, ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2019/sports/08/29/20190829-cj-perez-robert-bolick.jpg"/><figcaption>CJ Perez and Robert Bolick have known each other only as opponents since college, but that changed when they were called up to play for Gilas Pilipinas. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News</figcaption></figure></div>FOSHAN, China—Robert Bolick and CJ Perez produced one of the more compelling basketball rivalries in recent years, a story that started in the NCAA and continued in the PBA.Perez was the well-traveled swingman who went from San Sebastian to Ateneo before finally finding a home in Lyceum — and immediately making history for the school. Bolick made a well-publicized transfer from La Salle to San Beda — and helped ensure that the school&#x27;s championship legacy would continue.It was Perez who took home the individual awards, winning Most Valuable Player in Season 93 while leading the Pirates to an unbeaten season. But Bolick and the Red Lions ended their amazing run in the Finals, sweeping them in two games. It would be nearly the same story in Season 94 — except that a controversial suspension prevented Perez from winning any individual awards. Still, the end of the story was the same: San Beda swept Lyceum in the championship series, giving Bolick another championship to end his collegiate career.Yet their paths continued to intertwine in the PBA, as Perez became the No. 1 pick in the 2018 Rookie Draft for Columbian Dyip, with Bolick following two picks later, selected by NorthPort at No. 3. Their first encounter as professionals was one of the most highly-anticipated encounters of the season, and they proved themselves worthy of their selection in the Commissioner&#x27;s Cup, when they became among the most productive players in the league.The two young guards have always had a mutual respect for one another, but they truly became friends during the PBA All-Star Weekend earlier this year, when they were roommates in Calasiao, Pangasinan. Their bond only grew stronger when they both volunteered to help Gilas Pilipinas in its preparation for the FIBA World Cup, and wound up becoming an official part of the pool.They also roomed together during the national team&#x27;s training camp in Spain earlier this month, and that was where their friendship deepened.&quot;Roommate ko &#x27;yan eh, roommate ko &#x27;yan eh. Simula All-Star, hanggang sa Spain, roommate ko &#x27;yan. Kaya &#x27;yung bonding namin, gumaganda. Kahit na pinagra-rival niyo kami sa NCAA, pero hindi,&quot; said Perez.&quot;Roommate kami sa All-Star, roommate kami sa Spain, we talk a lot,&quot; said Bolick, for his part.One thing they repeatedly talk about? Seizing the moment. Neither Bolick nor Perez truly expected to be part of the Gilas line-up for the World Cup, as they had simply wanted to volunteer their services to the national team.But their strong performances in training camp and in tune-up games, along with the injuries to some veteran players like Matthew Wright and Marcio Lassiter, led to the rookies&#x27; inclusion in the &quot;Final 12.&quot;&quot;Nag-uusap kaming dalawa, na &#x27;Pare, andito na tayong na dalawa &#x27;di ba, let&#x27;s just grab the opportunity, just play our hearts out&#x27;,&quot; said Bolick. They have done exactly that, and their performances impressed Coach Yeng Guiao and naturalized center Andray Blatche.Guiao has said that he <a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/08/28/19/fiba-guiao-hails-gilas-rookies-they-will-do-well-in-world-cup">expects both rookies to do well</a> in the World Cup, despite their inexperience in the international stage. Bolick, in particular, is playing for the national team for the first time.&quot;The mere fact that they&#x27;ve been able to adjust their game from the PBA to world class level in a short time, says a lot about these two guys,&quot; said Guiao of the two. &quot;Because they have not really experienced this kind of competition yet, but in a short time they were able to upgrade their style, their game. I have no doubt that they will do well in the World Cup.&quot;Blatche, for his part, says he &quot;loves&quot; the two young guards. <ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/08/22/19/fiba-future-is-in-good-hands-gilas-vets-laud-bolick-perez">FULL STORY: &#x27;Future is in good hands&#x27; — Gilas vets laud Bolick, Perez</a></li></ul>&quot;Love &#x27;em, love &#x27;em. They both bring something different to the game,&quot; he said. &quot;CJ is gonna attack the rim very aggressive, and Robert, he&#x27;s just, you know, he&#x27;s just a great scorer. You can give him the ball and you can be like, &#x27;Go ahead get a bucket.&#x27; He can do that.&quot;For Bolick and Perez, this is the time for them to show that as compelling as their rivalry is, their partnership inside the court makes for an equally interesting story. Both are confident that their new bond outside the court can only help them inside of it.&quot;&#x27;Yung connection namin ni Bolick, maganda. &#x27;Yung pag-uusap namin, lalo na pag magkasabay kami sa court, &#x27;yung communication talaga, maganda,&quot; said Perez. &quot;I&#x27;m so happy and isang karangalan na makasama ko si Bolick,&quot; he added.Indeed, their long history as rivals will only help them. Bolick notes that he and Perez are very aware of how each other plays. &quot;Nagbabantayan na kaming dalawa,&quot; he pointed out. &quot;Alam na namin.&quot;&quot;So sabi ko pag nagsabay tayong dalawa, let&#x27;s just play like we&#x27;re in college, let&#x27;s just enjoy the game. And happy and proud na proud ako sa kanya, for sure ganoon din siya sa akin,&quot; he added.As for their rivalry? Bolick says it&#x27;s time to set it aside — at least for now.&quot;Close na kami masyado ngayon,&quot; he says.For more sports coverage, visit the <a href="https://sports.abs-cbn.com/">ABS-CBN Sports website</a>.

CJ Perez and Robert Bolick have known each other only as opponents since college, but that changed when they were called up to play for Gilas Pilipinas.

CJ Perez and Robert Bolick have known each other only as opponents since college, but that changed when they were called up to play for Gilas Pilipinas.

FIBA World Cup: No rivalry, as Perez and Bolick team up for flag, country

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FIBA World Cup: No rivalry, as Perez and Bolick team up for flag, country

Camille B. Naredo,

ABS-CBN News

Published August 29, 2019 07:35 PM PHT

Read More:

2019 FIBA World Cup

Gilas Pilipinas

NCAA

PBA

CJ Perez

Robert Bolick

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