Fukushima part ways with Chun Ki-beom and sign Philippines international Bolick.
The Fukushima Firebones of the Japanese B.2 League officially announced the signing of Robert Bolick (28, 185 cm) on their official website on March 15. His contract runs through the 2023-2024 season.
Bolick is a Philippine international guard. He is an accomplished scorer who is also good at creating for his teammates. Last season, he averaged 21.6 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 6.1 assists in seven games for Northport Batang Pier in the Philippine Governors’ Cup, playing 36.3 minutes per game. In 2019, he competed in the FIBA Basketball World Cup as a member of the Philippine men’s national team and continues to earn national team honors 스포츠토토.
Bolick knocked on the door of the KBL last season. Daegu Kogas, looking to add a guard, tried to sign him through the Asian Quota system, but were stymied by the “parental nationality must be Filipino” rule. Bolick is a mixed race, born to an American father and Filipino mother, so he played one more season in the Philippines before deciding to move to Japan.
Bolick’s addition to the Fukushima roster naturally means the team will have to part ways with its previous Asia Quarter player, Korea’s Chun Ki-beom. Chun joined Fukushima after a DUI incident in January last year and averaged 3.5 points, 1.6 rebounds, and 2.4 assists in 58 regular-season games, playing 13 minutes and 47 seconds per game. He earned a spot in the starting lineup midway through the season, but saw his minutes dwindle toward the end.
According to Jumpball, several B.2 League teams are reportedly interested in Chun. Chun also seems to have a strong desire to continue his career in Japan.