FILE – Guard Jason Brickman. ABL PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines—Jason Brickman may be suiting up in Taiwan’s T1 League but for the players Meralco 3×3 team in the PBA, he will always be part of the team.
Tonino Gonzaga, one of the players of the Bolts 3×3 team, said Brickman gave substantial amounts of work prior to his departure to Taiwan to join the Kaohsiung Aquas.
“He’s also part of this team because he worked for several months before he left for Taiwan,” said Gonzaga in Filipino during the PBA 3×3 Media Day.
Brickman was announced as the potential poster boy for the Bolts in the 3×3 tournament but the Long Island University Brooklyn alum decided to join the Aquas when the opportunity arose.
The well-travelled 29-year-old initially submitted his name for the PBA Draft but wasn’t able to complete the necessary paperwork required for Filipino-foreign players.
Despite Brickman’s decision to play elsewhere, the Bolts don’t have any resentment towards the former Alab Pilipinas star.
“He’s given us so much,” said Gonzaga. “Before the last lockdown [enhanced community quarantine in Metro Manila], he was still practicing with us. The standards he set for us are high, and in my eyes those are world-class standards. We’ve practiced hard because of him.”
Bolts forward Alfred Batino remains optimistic that Brickman will still play for the team and that a spot will always be available.
“If he’s not joining the draft, then yes,” said Batino in Filipino.