With his contract about to expire, Robert Bolick was reduced into a mere cheerleader when NorthPort battled Converge in the opening salvo of the Philippine Basketball Association Governors’ Cup last Sunday at the Philsports Arena.
Bolick, the top scorer of the recent Commissioner’s Cup, opted to rest his mild hamstring injury but the main reason behind his absence his contract, which is set to lapse at the end of the month.
Newly-appointed team manager Pido Jarencio told Daily Tribune that they had already sat down with Bolick to discuss his contract extension.
They, however, are no rush to seal the deal, knowing that they still own his playing rights.
“We’ve already talked, but even after his contract expires by the end of the month, we still have one month to hold his rights so there’s no need to rush,” Jarencio said in a telephone conversation a day after their humiliating 30-point loss to Converge, 92-122.
Bolick was one of the key three players sidelined by an injury.
Two other players had more serious injuries to deal with – former Most Valuable Player Arwind Santos and rising star William Navarro.
Santos played only six games in the Commissioner’s Cup, averaging 9.2 points, 6.2 rebounds and 1.3 steals before he got sidelined by a knee injury. He underwent knee procedure late last year to repair a damage and is likely to return next month.
But Navarro’s case is more serious as he suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury and will be out for the remainder of the season.
Still, the injury was not the reason why Bolick sat out.
The bigger issue is the contract as he is still waits NorthPort’s plans on keeping his services.
Unconfirmed reports have it that Bolick has an offer to play in Taiwan and should make a decision within the next four months.
The former San Beda University star, Bolick, is coming off another productive campaign when he led NorthPort’s return to the playoffs before getting eliminated by eventual champion Barangay Ginebra San Miguel.
In the Commissioner’s Cup, he averaged 21 points, 4.3 rebounds and 6.3 assists.
