Bolick set to play for NorthPort, Murphy replaces Weathers
Winless NorthPort will get the much-needed shot in the arm with the anticipated return of high-scoring guard Robert Bolick following a hamstring bout as well as reported contract issues with the Batang Pier at the close of January.
The 27-year-old Bolick has yet to play in the season-ending Governors’ Cup since sustaining a hamstring injury. He averaged 21 points, 6.3 assists and 4.3 rebounds in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup, which he helped reach the quarterfinals, before getting booted out by eventual champion Barangay Ginebra.
Interim NorthPort coach Bonnie Tan also took the time to clarify the issues on the ace guard’s contract with the team.
“Nasa option ng team yun na i-extend siya (Bolick), eh kasi may nababasa ako eh para lang maging accurate, may kontrata pa naman si Robert, in-extend lang, till the end of conference,” Tan told the Manila Times on Wednesday.
Bolick’s original one-season contract expired last January 31. But Tan mentioned that the team has the option of automatically extending the deal through end of the Governors’ Cup.
Tan, who switched spots with Pido Jarencio, now the team manager, disclosed that the former San Beda star already joined the team’s practice on Tuesday and is expected to play his first game of the conference when NorthPort goes up against Barangay Ginebra this Friday at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay.
The Batang Pier opened the conference with four straight defeats, with their recent loss, a 108-97 setback at the hands of the Phoenix Super LPG Fuel Masters on February 2.
The soft-spoken mentor also confirmed that former San Miguel Beer import Kevin Murphy has already arrived and will replace Marcus Weathers.
The young Weathers actually posted impressive numbers in his four-game stint, averaging 31.7 points, 10 rebounds and 2.5 assists for NorthPort.
Murphy, who played for the Beermen in 2018, is coming off a stint with Kuwait squad Kazma recently where he registered averages of 28 points, 8.3 rebounds and 2.0 assists in the 2022-23 West Asia Super League.
