CHICAGO- NLEX didn’t look like the No. 1 seed of the just-started Season 50 PBA Commissioner’s Cup playoffs.
The Road Warriors only looked like a low hanging fruit that No. 8 seed TNT plucked on Wednesday night.
TNT 96. NLEX 93.
After losing to Ginebra last Sunday, the Tropang 5G avoided a dangerous match-up against No. 4 ranked Meralco.
TNT instead got a weary, iffy Road Warriors who are a lot less gritty, less physical than the Bolts.
Sometimes, it’s better to be lucky than good. Right, TNT?
WEAK TOP SEED.
And this is why nobody is afraid of NLEX.
Their star, Robert Bolick, failed to deliver in the big moments. He has yet to win a PBA title after being picked third overall in the 2018 Rookie Draft.
Wednesday’s defeat was another one of those battles where Bolick didn’t empty the clip.
With a chance to carry his team to the semifinals, the 6-foot-1 point guard had a lame 15-point output.
Yup, the same player who had a high of 32 this conference before averaging 20.5 in the elimination round, was a no-show.
WILTING UNDER PRESSURE.
And here’s the real bummer. Bolick took only eight shots.
NLEX had other issues, such as import Cady Lalaine scoring only 17 while Schonny Winston struggled with 10 points on 3-of-12 shooting.
But it’s exactly during challenging times when a stud of Bolick’s caliber should step up.
TNT, meanwhile, took care of business with the mettle of a perennial champion.
Bol Bol had 34 points while veterans Calvin Oftana, Roger Pogoy and Jayson Castro combined for 53.
Though still alive with a twice-to-beat advantage, the Road Warriors are as done as an overcooked steak.
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