SEATED beside NLEX coach Jong Uichico, Road Warriors star Robert Bolick glanced at the game statistics and was left flabbergasted by one glaring difference against the Ginebra Kings last Wednesday night.
“Isipin mo, lamang pa kami sa rebounds?” Bolick posed. “Lamang pa kami sa rebounds na ang liliit namin. Iyon ang kagandahan sa team namin. Bago mag-start ng conference, sabi nga ni coach, lahat, it’s time to shine.
“Proud na proud ako sa teammates ko na ang ganda nang ipinapakita nila,” he added.
Bolick spoke after NLEX essayed a breathtaking 89-86 decision over Ginebra for its fourth straight win in the PBA Philippine Cup.
Ranged against the Kings who boast of 6-foot-9 Japeth Aguilar, a pair of 6-foot-7 big men in Troy Rosario and Jamie Malonzo, and former MVP Scottie Thompson, who’s one of the best rebounding guards in the pro league, the Road Warriors got the job done in the board battle 48-43.
Standing at a mere 6-foot-1, Bolick led his side in rebounding with seven, with Javee Mocon (6), JB Bahio (5), and Brandon Ramirez (5) doing their share.
Bolick shone with a game-high 28 points laced with four assists for NLEX while Xyrus Torres chipped in 11 markers, including a clutch three-pointer from the left corner in the final 48.2 seconds that made it an 86-85 game.
Ramirez and Kevin Alas also had 11 each as the Road Warriors scored a big follow-up to an 80-72 victory over the Blackwater Bossing last week and rose to 4-1.
Ginebra failed to do an encore to a 131-106 rout of NorthPort also last week and fell to 2-2.
Having to thwart the Kings’ fightback from a 17-point hole will surely serve NLEX in good stead.
“It’s good that we experienced it kasi we’re not really a young, but a pretty young team and to be able to get some confidence in winning that type of game, that will pay dividends later in the end in terms of learning to deal with pressure,” Uichico said. “So, it’s good that we got to win the game. We were up by double figures, but knowing Ginebra, they have the capacity to come back, which they did.
“Stephen Holt really shot the lights out. He got them into the game, but that’s good. But we also have a guy named Berto, Berto Bolick, who carried the team also. He made big shots and he wanted the ball. That’s why you need a Berto in your team to carry the team when things aren’t going well, especially on the offensive end. When it comes to competition and winning time, Berto is always there to step up.”
