Robert Bolick braces for Taiwan stint

With his contract with NorthPort in the Philippine Basketball Association about to expire, Robert Bolick is set to accept a short tour of duty in the T1 League in Taiwan.

Multiple sources confirmed to Daily Tribune that the star playmaker had already started packing his bags for a short assignment in the professional league in Taiwan.

In fact, Bolick and his wife, Cassandra, already entrusted their close friends to look for a buyer for his vehicle and even asked a caretaker to look after their property.

The source said the stint will be very short.

"He'll be back by May," the source said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

"The offer was presented to him a few years back but he turned it down and decided to sign a deal with NorthPort, instead."

Bolick signed a one-year maximum deal, but his contract will end by the end of this month.

In a previous conversation, NorthPort team manager Pido Jarencio told Daily Tribune that they have already tendered their offer to Bolick and it was already submitted to the PBA.

"We already have an offer. We made an offer because we don't want to lose our rights on Bolick," said Jarencio in a telephone conversation.

"Once his contract ends, we still have 30 days until both camps agree."

Even after that 30-day period lapses, NorthPort will still retain its playing rights on Bolick.

Jarencio clarified that Bolick hasn't told him anything about plans of playing overseas and they are focused on re-signing their ace player.

But Bolick is looking to take the opportunity to play in Taiwan but – unlike the previous offer – he wants just a short-term deal so he can play again in the PBA around May.

"Before, he was being offered a five-year deal, but Berto (Bolick) was having reservations," the source added. "Now, the offer is a short-term gig and could return to the country this May."

Once he returns, Bolick can resume his negotiation with NorthPort.

Bolick has missed the first three games of the ongoing Governors' Cup and his absence was clearly felt as the Batang Pier lost all of their games.

In the previous Commissioner's Cup, Bolick emerged as the top local scorer, averaging 21 points and shooting 83.9 percent from the charity stripe while pulling down 4.3 boards and dishing out 6.3 assists in 14 games.