How the NCAA paved Robert Bolick's road to Japan B.League

Robert Bolick's basketball career has been some journey.

Bolick began his collegiate stint with De La Salle University in 2013, before moving to then-San Beda College and eventually becoming an NCAA champion with the Red Lions.

He then applied for the PBA Draft and was picked third overall by NorthPort Batang Pier, his only PBA team, until he left for the Fukushima Firebonds in the Japan B.League this year.

In 2019, Bolick was also part of the Gilas Pilipinas squad that competed in the FIBA World Cup in China.

Now in Japan, Bolick said he just did not want to refuse an opportunity that was in front of him.

"I wanted to experience and try a different culture. I told myself I wanted to test to see if I could stick with it," he said in in Filipino in an exclusive interview with GMA Integrated News.

He had this same mindset when he took the leap to test the waters with San Beda and the NCAA, a move that changed the course of his career for the better.

With the Red Lions, he broke out as a college basketball star, being named to the Mythical Team in 2018 and winning three championships as part of San Beda.

His NCAA stint raised his stock enough that he was picked third in the PBA Draft. He continued to prove his worth in the professional ranks, and eventually found the opportunity to play overseas.

"Some people think if you go to the NC, it'll be hard to make it to the PBA, but they don't know, a lot of the players even in Gilas came from the NC," he said.

"It really was a big opportunity that they gave me, not just the NCAA, but also San Beda. And my feeling is, when you get an opportunity, just grab it. I feel like there are more good players in the NC. And you have a better chance to reach the PBA or even international," Bolick added.

In the recent PBA Draft, more than 30 applicants who are products of NCAA member schools were selected among the total 79 draftees.

As for San Beda's chances in this NCAA Season 99, Bolick quickly quipped: "We'll be champions this year, for sure."

—JMB, GMA Integrated News