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Blackwater retires jersey of late forward Gilbert Bulawan


Blackwater paid tribute to its late forward Gilbert Bulawan as they retired his No. 11 jersey in a brief ceremony before their first game of the Governors' Cup against NLEX on Saturday.

The Elite also had No. 11 patches on their jerseys in honor of the big man, who died of cardiac arrest during the team's practice two weeks ago.

Bulawan's wife Louise received the framed jersey of her husband presented by Blackwater and his close friend and teammate Reil Cervantes.

"Dini-dedicate namin 'yung every game para sa kanya. Ngayon natalo pero bawi na lang next game," Cervantes said after Elite's 96-90 loss.

The power forward was the teammate who held Bulawan when he collapsed during their practice at the SG Stadium in Quezon City.

"Akala ko nagbibiro lang kasi napayakap. Niyakap ko rin siya," Cervantes said.

The team rushed Bulawan to the Capitol Medical Center, but he was declared dead on arrival.

Cervantes said the unexpected death of his good friend since their high school days was hard to take.

"Mahirap sa akin mga first three days. Hindi nga ako nag-practice almost a week yata," he said. "Siyempre masakit sa 'kin kasi araw-araw magkatabi kami, sa out of town magkasama kami, kahit saan."

He remembers Bulawan as the team's Mr. Energy, someone who was always in high spirits and motivated everyone around him.

"Kasi tuwing [practice] may dala akong speaker sa gym. 'Pag narinig na niya, kakanta na siya," he said. "Old school, mga Air Supply."

"Nung Monday, dala ko 'yung speaker, parang naluha ako kasi syempre wala na siya," he said. —ALG, GMA News

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