ROBERT Bolick denied any friction with NLEX coach Jong Uichico or any unhappiness with the ballclub as he spoke to the press after the Road Warriors' loss to San Miguel on Saturday.
Bolick said he was surprised with the reports that came out with regards to him, saying that, aside from his stint with NLEX, he and his wife are busy taking care of their baby.
READ: San Miguel fends off late NLEX rally to get PH Cup campaign going
“Nagugulat na nga lang ako sa mga lumalabas kasi busy ako sa anak ko. Pag mga tatay, hindi na kami nakakahawak ng cellphone. After practice, pag-uwi ko, nagbabantay ako ng anak ko,” said Bolick.
“Hindi naman totoo ‘yun,” he added. “Sa side namin, wala naman. For me, wala akong alam kung anong nangyayari kasi bahay, nagbabantay ako sa baby ko, dalawa lang kami ng asawa ko.”
On rumors of a supposed rift with Uichico, Bolick said: “Kahit sinong coach ko, wala akong ano. Okay kami.”
Bolick said there is a transition period at NLEX with Uichico implementing a different system which got its first real test on Saturday in the conference opener against San Miguel.
The Road Warriors lost, 98-89, but they were able to tie the game late, 85-85, despite trailing by as many as 15 points.
“May bago kaming sistema ngayon. Medyo nanibago lang kami lahat pero maganda ‘yung tinatakbo namin. Maganda ‘yung ball movement namin,” said Bolick.
“Ganun talaga, first game eh, medyo pag totoong laro na [nahihirapan]. Pero itutuloy lang namin ‘yun. Maganda ‘yung ikutan namin. Suwerte lang talaga, siyempre San Miguel ‘yun. Pero kita mo naman ‘yung ball movement. Hindi nagiistick sa isang kamay. ‘Yun ang bagong basketball ngayon eh. Kailangan mag-adjust ka rin.”
Bolick is optimistic that NLEX is on the right track with the new system as the conference progresses with the Road Warriors aiming to enter the playoffs after finishing ninth in the Commissioner’s Cup.
“Maganda ‘yung sistema namin, kailangan lang namin sumunod. Natambakan kami pero nag-stick pa rin kami sa sistema ni coach. Maganda ‘yung outcome. ‘Yun nga lang, marami kaming miss, mga gimme. Kung nasushoot lang ‘yun, kaya naming ipanalo ito. Itutuloy lang namin ‘yun, maayos ‘yung sistema,” said Bolick.
“Player movement, ball movement, ‘yan ‘yung pine-preach ni coach sa offseason. Kita mo naman, for sure, magugulat ‘yung mga tao sa galaw namin. Maganda ‘yung galaw namin," he continued.
"‘Yun ‘yung ano sa conference ko na bigyan ng belief ‘yung teammates ko na kaya din nila. ‘Yun ‘yung style ng basketball ngayon. So far, optimistic naman si coach. Optimistic kami lahat kahit na talo kami. Pero ‘yun ‘yung mga talo na maganda kasi dumikit kami, nag-stick kami sa sistema, hindi kami umalis sa gusto ni coach.”
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