FOR a guy who’s so used to taking the biggest shots for his team, Robert Bolick sure is enjoying letting others look good now.
Just a few games ago, he set up his rookie LJay Gonzales to win the game against Meralco. This time around, it’s JB Bahio who drained his first game-winning basket in the PBA to lift NLEX past Rain or Shine 92-90 and seize control of the top spot in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup.
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And Bolick’s unselfish ways aren't lost on Bahio, his longtime teammate back at San Beda, as he sang his point guard praises after squeezing the best out of them.
“Sobrang saya, sobrang sarap ng feeling ko na nagbunga din yung tinatatrabaho ko araw-araw sa practice, yung extra shots at extra skills work,” Bahio said when asked of his first game-winning basket in his pro career.
“Isa lang masasabi ko, sobrang swerte namin. Pinapagaling niya lahat ng teammates n'ya, pinapagana niya lahat,” he continued. “Alam niya kung ano yung strength namin. Yung mga sweet spots namin, nahahanap niya kami. Sobrang galing, sobrang talino kaya sobrang swerte namin na teammate namin siya.”
Bolick, for his part, said that he’s merely doing his job.
The game-winning dish gave the former Red Lion his 11th assist for the night to go along with his 30 points and three steals.
The proud native of Ormoc, Leyte shared how he’s just merely repaying all the extra work that his teammates are putting in for every practice.
“Alam ko na kung san paboritong tira ni JB, doon sa ilalim,” Bolick said.
“Sabi nga ni coach, lahat sila nagttrabaho sa practice, nagppractice sila, ako [nagpapa]-masahe lang sa gilid, tinitignan ko kung san ba yung gusto nilang tira, san ba sila high percentage, san ba sila nagppractice sa mga tira, kaya yung mid-range na yun ibibigay ko talaga sa kanya yun. “
Bolick knows the feeling of being a ‘hero’. He knows the adrenaline hitting a game-winning basket brings and the memories it creates for the shot maker. The confidence it brings moving forward.
And if everybody gets to experience it, then he’ll be the happiest person on the team.
“Yung mga ganung opportunities nakikita mo yung mga teammates mo, gusto mo mag-strive sila at magka-moment sila na babalik-balikan at happy ako doon. Yung tira na yun."
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