JIMMY Alapag, a PBA and Gilas great who has gone to coaching, sees Robert Bolick and CJ Perez as the future faces of the local pro league - if they haven't achieved the status yet.
"These guys have bright future," said Alapag of the two former NCAA stars who have made waves with Gilas Pilipinas right in their PBA rookie season.
And the two could well be among the Gilas lead guns in future FIBA plays or when international games resume.
In the PBA, keenly awaited is their follow-through to their outstanding freshman year where they contended for the Rookie of the Year award that eventually went to Perez.
The Columbian Dyip young guard/forward was the Top Freshman and made the Mythical First Five with June Mar Fajardo, Jayson Castro, Christian Standhardinger and Sean Anthony.
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Bolick's blazing ride was rudely interrupted by an injury. But he's now catching up especially with the pandemic having stopped just about everything.
He could be ready at the restart of PBA training for the resumption of Season 45 Philippine Cup.
"They're two young great players," said Alapag of Perez and Bolick during his guesting at The Philippine STAR's Beyond the Game with The Dean webcast Monday.
"I'm a big fan of Bolick because of his passion when he's on the floor as well as his leadership," said Alapag of the young NorthPort guard.
For Perez, Alapag is so amazed with his athleticism.
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"Perez is so athletic and so gifted on both ends. On offensive, his ability to shoot and to create, and on the defensive end his ability to guard guys," said Alapag.
In 2019, Bolick and Perez showed exciting stuff not just with their mother ball clubs but with Gilas Pilipinas, under coach Yeng Guiao, in the FIBA World Cup in China. (SB)
