ROBERT Bolick once again came through at crunch time.
With half the metro paralyzed by flash flood and heavy traffic - the 2018 Chooks-To-Go Collegiate Player of the Year just had to be present for the awards, never mind that he, too, was suffering from diarrhea the whole day. So he hitched a motorcycle just to get to the Bayleaf Hotel in Intramuros on time.
With the other awardees either out of the country or out of town for a training camp or team building, Bolick's presence was badly needed to prop up the event.
True to form, he came through at the most opportune time - not for San Beda this time around - but for the UAAP–NCAA Press Corps which was honoring him with the highest award that the organization gives to a collegiate player.
The 23-year old do-it-all guard just doesn’t like letting anybody down.
“Sarap pala mag-angkas no? Traffic lang. Huwag lang hindi traffic, natatakot ako sa mga truck eh,” said Bolick after being feted as the first-ever NCAA player to win the Collegiate Player of the Year award.
Bolick says that his presence was just a way of giving back to the reporters who worked night in and night out during the season and helped him be where he is today.
It would have been totally understandable had Bolick missed the awards – but instead of giving an excuse, he opted to be gracious instead.
“Sinasabi ko nga e, kung wala kayo, hindi naman kami sisikat e. Pinakamadaling trabaho kami e, gagawin lang namin shumoot lang, masarap pa trabaho namin. Kayo magiisip pa ng magandang sasabihin,” Bolick said as he talked to select reporters, most of which are members of the UAAP–NCAA Press Corps.
“Credit to you guys. Kung wala kayo, nakikilala ba kami? Wala naman ata,” he added.
In the short history of the awards, Bolick also made history by being the first player over at the NCAA side to be named the Player of the Year.
While there are a plethora of individual players who stood out in the past like Calvin Abueva, Ian Sangalang, Raymond Almazan and Earl Scottie Thompson – Bolick’s case was a different one.
Not only did he shine individually, he was also able to lead the Red Lions to the Promised Land for the 21st time – making him prime for the top individual plum in the awards.
As expected though, Bolick played down the recognition.
“Ang sarap sa feeling. Meaning lang nun, mahal na mahal niyo talaga ako,” Bolick said, drawing laughter from reporters.
“Sa akin kasi, wala talaga yung individual. Kahit pa next year ma-thrown out ako, wala akong pakielam. Basta I just want to win. Championship talaga ang nasa isip ko. Yung individual awards, bigay mo na sa kanila, all I want is a championship.”
Bolick’s sacrifice, however, didn’t go unnoticed as Chooks to Go, through Mel Macasaquit, gave out a bonus to him of P15,000 for being named to the Mythical Team and winning the Player of the Year award.
Now that’s an individual recognition Bolick will be taking.
“Sulit na sulit talaga ang pagpunta,” Bolick said while laughing.
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