ROBERT Bolick nailed crucial threes in the end game as NLEX doused Blackwater’s fiery start in the PBA 48th Season Philippine Cup with a 103-97 win on Wednesday at the Philsports Arena.
Bolick scored two back-breaking threes in the final minute of the contest to take the Road Warriors to their fourth win in five outings while handing the Bossing their first defeat after four games.
Ritchie Rodger and Anthony Semerad also made key shots from the last deadlock at 92-all for the Road Warriors, who had Jong Uichico calling the shots with NLEX coach Frankie Lim nursing a wrist injury.
NLEX gets bench support
NLEX also got huge contributions off the bench from Jhan Nermal, who had 16 points and seven rebounds, and Dominick Fajardo, who had a season-high 14 points and two blocks.
Robbie Herndon also chipped in 14 points and 10 rebounds for the Road Warriors, while former Blackwater cager Baser Amer added 12 points.
Bolick's crucial threes
Bolick, who was recently named Player of the Week by the PBA Press Corps, nailed the threes in the 45.4 and 30.1-second mark of the contest to settle the final score.
He also added nine rebounds and nine assists in a near triple-double effort in the victory.
“What’s good about Robert, he produces a lot of scores… But if you will take a look at the assist department, magaling din pumasa si Bolick. Ninety percent of the time, ‘yung bola na kay Berto. And 90 percent of the time, good decisions ang ginagawa ni Berto,” said NLEX assistant coach Borgie Hermida.
Prior to Bolick’s pair of triples, Rodger scored a lay-up and Semerad hit a three to create a five-point separation, 97-92.
Rey Suerte had 21 points but shot just 3-of-8 from the free throw line, most of which at the most crucial time of the game.
The scores:
NLEX 103 – Bolick 21, Nermal 16, Fajardo 14, Herndon 14, Amer 12, Semerad 11, Rodger 9, Marcelo 4, Valdez 2, Miranda 0, Pascual 0.
Blackwater 97 – Suerte 21, Rosario 16, Nambatac 16, Tungcab 15, Guinto 12, Ilagan 8, David 4, Yap 3, Escoto 2, Kwekuteye 0, Jopia 0, Sena 0, Hill 0.
Quarters: 22-26; 50-51; 71-72; 103-97.
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