FOR someone who’s been with Robert Bolick since college, Javee Mocon considers his long-time friend one of those rare great players.
“Generational talent if I can say si Robert,” said Mocon of his former San Beda teammate and now NLEX partner. “And I get to feed off that. Kaya malaking bagay talaga sa akin.”
Familiar with how Mocon plays, Bolick teamed up with the 30-year-old forward and guided the Road Warriors to a 105-95 win over Phoenix in the PBA Philippine Cup on Sunday night at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
READ NLEX pulls away late, ousts Phoenix from playoff contention
Fresh from signing a one-year contract with the team, Mocon played his best game in an NLEX jersey with 23 points on 10-of-15 shooting, while adding nine rebounds and three assists in the win that formally ousted the Fuel Masters from the race to the quarterfinals.
Mocon said Bolick brings out the best in him.
“Robert knows me,” he said of the prolific scoring guard with who he won three NCAA championships at San Beda from 2016-18. “Pero its different now. Nung college kami, I was playing the 4, and siya the same lang. Pero it’s a different Robert Bolick now. He can control (the game).”
Mocon’s output is the fourth best in his PBA career and his highest since dropping 24 in an 89-92 loss to Northport in the 2022-23 Commissioner’s Cup ironically, while still playing with Phoenix.
In a way, he said it’s also showing to his former team just what it actually lost by letting him go.
“There’s always a chip on my shoulder, whatever team, Rain or Shine or Phoenix. I just have to prove, not to anybody, but to myself na I have a value and I can still play at a high level,” said Mocon.
Originally picked by Rain or Shine in the first round of the 2018 draft, he was traded to Phoenix in 2022 for Nick Demusis and two future draft picks.
Just last year, the Fuel Masters dealt him to NLEX for Ato Ular and a 2025 second round pick.
Now given a new lease on life by the Road Warriors after receiving a new contract, Mocon jokingly said Bolick claims having a hand in his career reboot.
“The usual, nagyayabang na naman. Siya (Bolick) daw bumuhay ng career ko,” said Mocon in between laughs. “Pero ano lang 'yun, katuwaan lang.”
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph
NOTICE ON UNAUTHORIZED AND UNLAWFUL USE, PUBLICATION, AND/OR DISSEMINATION OF SPIN.PH CONTENT: Please be notified that any unauthorized and unlawful use, publication, and/or dissemination of Spin.ph’s content and/or materials is a direct violation of its legal and exclusive rights to the same, and shall be subject to appropriate legal action/s.
