FIBA World Cup 2019: 5 Team Pilipinas players to look out for

#1 Robert Bolick Jr.

Bolick during Gilas Pilipinas' tuneup in Spain (Image: SBP)

Another surprise for the final 12-man lineup is fellow rookie Robert Bolick, who is also coming from an impressive collegiate career and an even more impressive rookie year.

Bolick led his team to three NCAA championships, one of which included an upset against now-teammate CJ Perez. Despite facing a team that had swept the regular season 18-0, Bolick and his squad won the championship where he also earned the nickname, "Beastmode Bolick" because of his hot shooting and timely dimes.

Bolick was selected as part of the 2018 NCAA Philippines Mythical Team while also being the scoring champion the same year. He also led the league in assists the year prior, showing his good decision-making skills as a point guard.

In Bolick's professional debut, he scored 26 points on 10-of-12 shooting while also grabbing three rebounds and three dimes in just 36 minutes of action, a franchise record for most points by a PBA rookie in a debut.

In Gilas Pilipinas' tune-up game against Congo, the 6'1 guard was unfazed as he aggressively scored 21 points on 7-of-9 shooting and grabbed 6 rebounds.

Bolick is a level-headed young player who can get buckets without hesitation. He can either attack the rim or stretch the floor for Gilas. He has yet to show what he can do in the international scene, and with this being his FIBA debut, his hot shooting and timely dimes won't be the only surprise for Group D.