Gilbert Domingo Bulawan (August 25, 1986 – July 3, 2016) was a Filipino professional basketball player who played for the Meralco Bolts, Barako Bull Energy Cola and Blackwater Elite of 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
DiedJuly 3, 2016(2016-07-03) (aged 29)
Quezon City, Philippines
NationalityFilipino
Listed height6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
Listed weight195 lb (88 kg)
Career information
CollegeSan Sebastian
PBA draft2011: 2nd round, 17th overall pick
Selected by the Alaska Aces
Playing career2011–2016
PositionPower forward / center
Number11
Career history
2011–2013Meralco Bolts
2013–2014Barako Bull Energy Cola
2014–2016Blackwater Elite
Career highlights and awards

College career

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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

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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] In 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

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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.[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 rare condition, atherosclerosis, which was rare enough that 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

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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

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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

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Casio, Lee headline top rookie pick". PBA.ph. Archived from the original on 14 September 2011. Retrieved 16 September 2011.
  2. ^ "PBA approves trade: Dillinger, Allado to Meralco, Buenafe to Barako Bull, Anthony to Talk 'N Text | InterAksyon.com | Sports5". Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2016-03-22.
  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. ^ "Gilbert Bulawan Player Profile - PBA-Online.net". PBA-Online.net. Archived from the original on August 9, 2016.