ANTIPOLO – While him being the top candidate to be Best Player of the Conference is music to his ears, Robert Bolick would rather focus on the task in front of him - contribute to NLEX reaching the semifinals of the PBA 50th Season Governors’ Cup.
Bolick is up front in terms of statistical points (SP) at the end of the elimination round with 37.1, all while the Road Warriors are on an outstanding run - where they are only one win away from advancing to the semifinals for just the third time in franchise history.
“Sarap pakinggan,” he said before blurting a smile on Wednesday night, when asked about being frontrunner.
“Kapag iniisip mo, maninibago ‘yung mindset mo eh. Saka ko na isipin kapag nakalusot na kami sa semis.”
NLEX is one win away from disposing of Phoenix following a 124-117 victory in Game 2 of their best-of-five quarterfinal duel.
A semis appearance will boost Bolick’s chance of winning the very first BPC of his career, but his closest pursuers include the Converge trio of Justin Arana, Justine Baltazar, and Juan Gomez de Liano, sitting at third to fifth places, respectively, and are also in the hunt for the final four.
Even June Mar Fajardo of San Miguel, a 13-time BPC, is in the running at No. 6 in the SP standings, and is also chasing for a semis berth.
Semis-bound Road Warriors
But team glory by reaching the semis is the primary focus of Bolick, especially with his playoff heartbreaks in the past, whether it was with the Road Warriors or any of his former teams.
And if they can get the job done on Saturday in Game 3 at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium, the better.
“Ito na ‘yung opportunity namin. One win away na lang, first time semis. Last time ko semis, rookie year ko pa sa NorthPort, na-ACL pa ako tapos itong NLEX ‘yung kalaban namin, twice-to-beat tinalo namin,” he said.
“Wala pang celebration. Kapag Sabado, after the game, baka puwede na. Pero as much as possible, dito na kami eh, nag-zero na, bakit pa pagbibigyan pa. Habang medyo down pa sila, go for the kill na lang. Hopefully, ma-execute namin.”
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