ROBERT Bolick had nothing but praise to NLEX import Cady Lalanne - saying that the reinforcement is one of the reasons why the Road Warriors occupy the No. 1 in the playoffs and one win away from a semifinal appearance in the PBA 50th Season Commissioner’s Cup.
And Bolick is confident that their import can bring them to a deep run in the playoffs.
READ: Top seed NLEX tunes out 'least favored' talk ahead of TNT playoff
“Tiwala kami sa import namin,” Bolick said. “Ang galing ng import namin.”
While TNT’s Bol Bol, Barangay Ginebra’s Justin Brownlee, San Miguel’s Bennie Boatwright, and Rain or Shine’s Jaylen Johnson hugged the headlines, Lalanne has quietly made his mark for the Road Warriors.
Three of Lalanne’s averages are inside the top three with the NLEX import norming 26.0 point (third behind Bol and Brownlee), 15.6 rebounds (second behind Terrafirma’s Mubashar Ali), and 2.3 blocks (second behind Bol).
More than the numbers though, Bolick said the entire team likes the attitude of Lalanne.
“Napaka-positive. Parang minsan, hindi mo ramdam sa loob pero ang laki ng impact niya sa amin as a team. Pinapagaling niya kaming lahat. Bihirang bihira yung import na walang ka-toyo toyo,” he added.
Bolick speculated that Lalanne’s attitude may have something to do with him once being part of the San Antonio Spurs organization.
Early in his professional career, Lalanne was drafted No. 55 by the Spurs in 2015, but played for the Austin Spurs in the G League for only a season.
The Spurs have a reputation for their winning culture, which Bolick said Lalanne may have adapted during his brief stay with the NBA organization.
“Siguro totoo talaga yung sinasabi sa Spurs organization. Nakikita mo kung paano siya as a player. Siyempre, tayong mga Pilipino, nagtatanong ako agad, kumusta ba si Kawhi (Leonard), mga ganun. May mga kuwentong ganun, ano ba yung ginagawa niya (Lalanne). Nakikita mo agad,” said Bolick.
Bolick said Lalanne has mostly deferred to him when it comes to scoring, hearing no qualms from his import even in the times where he doesn't get touches.
“Kahit sampung possession, hindi nakakatanggap, walang wala kang maririnig. Mag-mimiss ka, siya pa magsasabi na tira mo lang, re-rebound ako. Ang sarap ng ganun,” he said.
“Talagang yung voice niya sa locker room, talagang mabigat,” he added.
Bolick has received his share of praises from fans for NLEX’s solid showing in the Commissioner’s Cup but he believes credit should also go to Lalanne.
“Tingin ng tao, ako lang lagi pero hindi totoo yun. Isa siya sa mga pinaka-importante sa team,” Bolick said.
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