Gilbert Bulawan

Gilbert D. Bulawan (August 25, 1986 – July 3, 2016) was a Filipino professional basketball player who played for the Blackwater Elite, Meralco Bolts and Barako Bull Energy Cola in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA). He was drafted 17th overall in the 2011 PBA draft by the Alaska Aces.

Gilbert Bulawan

Personal information
Born	(1986-08-25)August 25, 1986 Legazpi, Albay, Philippines
Died	July 3, 2016(2016-07-03) (aged 29) Quezon City, Philippines
Nationality	Filipino
Listed height	6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
Listed weight	195 lb (88 kg)
Career information
College	San Sebastian College–Recoletos
PBA draft	2011 Round: 2 / Pick: 17th overall
Selected by the Meralco Bolts
Playing career	2011–2016
Position	Power forward / Center
Number	11
Career history
2011–2013	Meralco Bolts
2013–2014	Barako Bull Energy Cola
2014–2016	Blackwater Elite
Career highlights and awards
No. 11 retired by Blackwater Elite NCAA Philippines champion (2009)

College career

Bulawan played for the San Sebastian College–Recoletos Men's Senior Basketball team from 2006 to 2010. In Season 85, He was one of the members of the San Sebastian Stags who won the title against then three-time defending champions San Beda Red Lions in a sweep 2-0.

Professional career

After Bulawan has finished his college career, he decided to apply for the 2011 PBA draft. In the draft, he was drafted 17th overall by the Aces before being traded to the Bolts.[1] On June 2013, Bulawan was traded to Barako Bull Energy Cola from Meralco in a three-team trade that also sent Jared Dillinger and Don Allado to Meralco.[2] Later in the 2014 season, Bulawan was one of the players dropped by Barako, allowing him to join the 2014 PBA Expansion Draft, where he was picked 15th by Blackwater.

Death

On July 3, 2016, Bulawan died after collapsing while on team practice with Blackwater Elite. He was declared dead on arrival at Capitol Medical Center in Quezon City, Philippines.[3][4] Bulawan is the youngest and very first active player to die in the PBA.[5]

The autopsy said that Bulawan suffered from enlargement of the heart. Bulawan had a very rare condition, a thickened blood vessel, which was so rare even ECG tests and numerous team medical checks were unable to reveal his condition. Blackwater Elite owner Dioceldo Sy had asked the PBA for a small ceremony on its first game on the 2016 Governors' Cup for the retirement of Bulawan's jersey, #11.[6]

PBA career statistics

Legend
GP	Games played	GS	Games started	MPG	Minutes per game
FG%	Field-goal percentage	3P%	3-point field-goal percentage	FT%	Free-throw percentage
RPG	Rebounds per game	APG	Assists per game	SPG	Steals per game
BPG	Blocks per game	PPG	Points per game	Bold	Career high

[7]

Season-by-season averages

Year	Team	GP	MPG	FG%	3P%	FT%	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	PPG
2011–12	Meralco	11	11.6	.455	.000	.667	2.4	.2	.2	.1	4.2
2012–13	Meralco / Barako Bull	13	5.8	.308	.000	.500	1.1	.0	.0	.1	.7
2014–15	Blackwater	19	16.9	.409	.333	.529	2.3	.7	.3	.3	3.4
2015–16	Blackwater	9	8.2	.235	.000	.500	1.9	.0	.1	.0	1.3
Career		52	11.5	.393	.167	.556	1.9	.3	.2	.1	2.5

References

1. "Casio, Lee headline top rookie pick". PBA.ph. Archived from the original on 14 September 2011. Retrieved 16 September 2011.
2. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2016-03-22.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
3. Blackwater forward Gilbert Bulawan dies after collapsing during practice Archived 2016-07-06 at the Wayback Machine, Richard Dy, Fox Sports Asia, July 3, 2016
4. Autopsy performed on Bulawan as officials, fellow players come to grips with shock death, spin.ph, July 3, 2016
5. "Blackwater Elite's Power Forward Gilbert Bulawan Died During Team Practice". PinoyBoxBreak. Retrieved July 3, 2016.
6. Autopsy report reveals fallen Blackwater player Gilbert Bulawan suffered from enlarged heart, spin.ph, July 4, 2016
7. Player Profile at PBA-Online!