Ex-PBA veteran Cris Bolado dies in road crash in Cambodia

Photo from Cris Bolado’s Facebook account

Former PBA veteran Cris Bolado was killed in a motorcycle crash on Sunday in Cambodia. He was 47.

After having a successful PBA career, Bolado ran a Filipino restaurant in the Cambodian capital of Phnom Penh.

The 6-foot-6 big man won 11 championships, including a rare Grand Slam as a member of Alaska Milk in 1996.

His former Alaska head coach Tim Cone remembered him as a “gentle giant” and a player always admired by his teammates.

“I was so shocked and sorry to hear about the passing of Cris. He was such a joy to coach and both a gentleman and a gentle giant,” Cone told INQUIRER.net Monday.

“He was always loved by his teammates and that’s why his teams were successful every where he played. He was a great chemistry guy. My heart goes out to the family of Chris and my condolences. He will be remembered with great fondness,” Cone, who coached Alaska from 1989-2011, added.

Bolado was selected by Alaska as the 13th overall pick in the 1994 PBA Draft.