Farewell to PBA’s ‘lucky charm’ Cris
CRIS BOLADO, once acknowledged as one of the PBA’s gentle giants, is gone.
Philippine basketball lost another one of its renowned big men as the burly 6-foot-7 player died in a tragic motorcycle accident in Cambodia.
The PBA family, including the former coaches he played for in his championship teams, extended their condolences to the man, who built a reputation as a “lucky charm” to almost all the teams he practically played for.
“Oh no. He’s the second friend we have who had died in a motorcycle accident this year,” wrote Tim Cone in a text message sent by BusinessWorld. “Cris was such a great person and a gentle giant. He was always one of my favorite guys that I coached through the years.”
Mr. Cone’s long-time assistant at Alaska, Joel Banal, witnessed how Mr. Bolado’s toughness helped carry the usually finesse to winning more championship.
“He’s a gentle giant in general, but once you field him inside, he’s as tough as nail,” added Mr. Banal. “He doesn’t back down.”
Mr. Bolado burst onto the PBA scene in 1994 and immediately, he won a championship with Alaska, then being handled by Cone, in just his first year in the league.
He won six championships with Alaska, including a rare grand slam in 1996.
When he transferred to Purefoods the following season in a trade with Rodney Santos, Mr. Bolado brought his winning ways to the then Ayalaowned squad coached by a rookie mentor named Eric Altamirano, who guided the Corned Beef Cowboys to the All-Filipino championship.
“He will be remembered as he was part of many championships and I will remember him as well because he was part of my first champion team in the PBA,” Mr. Altamirano added. “I remember him as a gentle giant. He was a great teammate and everybody loved him.”
But after playing for just a conference, Mr. Bolado was shipped to the Gordon’s Gin Boars, then the team being carried by the old Ginebra fran-