Dennis Gaviola

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Paige Javier

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<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1788448828380PBA Image3.jpg" style="width: 960px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960">Robert Bolick. PBA Images</div>MANILA &ndash; Robert Bolick is not shying away from the &quot;kuya&quot; or veteran role in his latest Gilas Pilipinas callup for the 20th Asian Games in Japan this month.Eight months since winning gold in the 33rd Southeast Asian Games in Thailand, Bolick is running it back for the national team in another multi-sport event.The NLEX Road Warriors star will be competing alongside fellow PBA players, as they seek to defend the gold medal in men&#39;s 5x5 basketball. &nbsp;&quot;Happy and excited. Hopefully makuha namin yung gusto namin makuha,&quot; Bolick said in an online press conference on Thursday.&quot;Siyempre una kong pasok sa World Cup ako yung pinakabata. Tapos ngayon parang si Don, tapos ako na yung parang beterano. Parang tumatanda na rin talaga. At the same time nakikita ko yung kapwa ko PBA players magagaling sila from the distance ko lang sila nakikita maglaro, ngayon nakakasama ko na,&quot; he added.<div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/basketball/2026/9/3/gilas-gearing-up-to-compete-with-11-players-all-filipino-team-in-asiad-1713">READ: Gilas gearing up to compete with 11 players, all-Filipino team in Asiad </a></div>The 30-year-old guard is upbeat about the team&#39;s performance so far, given the bond they built in training and familiarity with each other even as opponents in the PBA.&quot;Masaya ako na meron din akong matutunan sa kanila and hopefully sila may matutunan sa akin. Hopefully, kung ano pinagtrabahuan namin, manalo kami,&quot; Bolick said.&quot;Hindi siya pilitan na samahan eh. Parang natural lang talaga na medyo maganda yung timpla ng lahat ng grupo. Pareho kaming makukulit. Pero pag dating sa laro, pareho kaming focused. Masarap rin tingnan sila Balti, sila Jerrick, sila Bates, matutunan ko rin sila. Saan ba nila gusto tumira, saan ba sila malakas. At least sa PBA na-scout nila,&quot; he jokingly shared.With back-to-back national team call-ups in the SEA Games and now Asiad, along with his impressive showing in the PBA, fans are wondering if Bolick could make a return to the FIBA lineup.<div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/basketball/2026/9/2/gilas-goes-uptempo-in-asiad-title-defense-says-cone-1929">READ: Gilas goes uptempo in Asiad title defense, says Cone </a></div>The San Beda University product last played for Gilas in a FIBA-level tournament against New Zealand during the 2023 FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers in February 2022.Bolick was also part of the Gilas squad under head coach Yeng Guiao in the 2019 FIBA World Cup where he played in five games.While he awaits another FIBA callup, Bolick cherishes every opportunity he gets to play for the national team.&quot;Siyempre. Hindi lang naman siguro ako pero lahat kami gusto makasali doon. Pero at the same time, hindi na namin desisyon yun eh. Ito yun nabigay sa amin. Honored parin kami na part kami sa group na ito,&quot; Bolick said.&quot;Sa mga next na liga, hopefully hindi man ako pero yung iba sa teammates ko matawag din, ma-recognize din yung hard work nila. And yun sana. Hindi ko alam kung mangyari. Pero kung mangyari, siyempre masaya ako,&quot; he shared.For now, Bolick is focused on helping Gilas defend its Asian Games gold, bringing with him the lessons he learned from the SEA Games.&quot;Nung SEA Games [team] namin, wala kaming import. Tapos walang expectations na mag-gold kami. Ngayon wala na naman kaming import, baka ma-swerte na naman kami. So hopefully makuha namin yung gold, hindi lang para sa akin, para sa team... Baka hindi kami makatulog. Pero yun yung expectation namin, sana mag-gold kami kaya kami nandito,&quot; he said.&nbsp;While he admits there is pressure coming in as defending champions, Bolick believes the team&#39;s shared motivation and camaraderie will be key to taking home hardware.&quot;Mas maganda yung hindi masyado yung expectation para walang pressure eh. Then hopefully pag dating ng laro mas loose ba. Pero at the same time, magagaling yung kasama ko so lahat ito yung expectation mag-gold din. So kung pare-pareho kami ng expectation mas madaling ma-accomplish yun,&quot; he said.&nbsp;Gilas will face South Korea in two friendly games ahead of their Asiad campaign, which begins on September 11 against Bahrain.

Robert Bolick is not shying away from the "kuya" or veteran role in his latest Gilas Pilipinas callup for the 20th Asian Games in Japan this month.

Robert Bolick is not shying away from the "kuya" or veteran role in his latest Gilas Pilipinas callup for the 20th Asian Games in Japan this month.

Robert Bolick embracing veteran role with Gilas in Asian Games

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Robert Bolick embracing veteran role with Gilas in Asian Games

Paige Javier,

ABS-CBN News

Published September 03, 2026 11:44 PM PHT

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basketball

Gilas Pilipinas

Robert Bolick

Asian Games

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