ROBERT Bolick bailed NLEX out with crucial plays in a 92-83 win over Titan Ultra on Sunday - its second straight win in the PBA 50th Season Philippine Cup at the University of Santo Tomas Quadricentennial Pavilion.
Bolick scored 36 points including a three with 1:21 left to break an 83-83 deadlock. He also had 10 assists including a forward pass that led to Dominick Fajardo's fastbreak lay-up with 43.7 seconds left to increase the gap to five.
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Those plays proved enough to enable NLEX to join Rain or Shine at the top of the standings with a 6-2 win-loss record before the league takes a FIBA-mandated break to give way to Gilas Pilipinas' campaign in the World Cup qualifiers.
Bolick had 15 points in the final quarter alone to push NLEX ahead. He also got the better of Titan Ultra’s Calvin Abueva, whose 27 points, 15 rebounds, and four blocks couldn't save the Giant Risers from dropping to 2-6 (win-loss).
NLEX actually scored the last nine points of the game, but it was a close battle prior to that finishing run.
“We couldn’t get anything in the halfcourt. We weren’t able to get into a flow. As an adjustment, we decided to speed the game up so that’s where we got easy baskets,” said NLEX coach Jong Uichico.
JB Bahio also had 20 points and 12 rebounds to back Bolick up on the offensive end.
Joshua Munzon had 19 points including a lay-up to tie the match at 83, but that was the last time that Titan Ultra got close.
The scores:
NLEX 92 – Bolick 34, Bahio 20, Torres 7, Herndon 6, Fajardo 5, Mocon 5, Policarpio 5, Valdez 4, Alas 2, Nieto 2, Capulong 2, Ramirez 0, Rodger 0.
Titan Ultra 83 – Abueva 27, Munzon 19, Pessumal 14, Ular 7, Dionisio 6, Yu 5, Balanza 4, Melecio 1, Cuntapay 0, Ambohot 0, Monje 0.
Quarters: 23-19; 40-41; 65-65; 92-83.
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