TO say Robert Bolick was frustrated following a sorry NLEX loss in Game 1 of the PBA Philippine Cup quarterfinals is an understatement.
The high-scoring guard kept to himself and didn’t grant a post-game interview in the aftermath of the Road Warriors’ 97-93 setback to the Meralco Bolts on Friday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
READ Meralco steadier than NLEX in the clutch to take 1-0 lead
Bolick erupted for a career-high 48 points in 41 minutes of play, grabbed four rebounds, and issued five assists. He had 28 in the first half alone and finished with a 6-of-13 clip from three-point range and a near perfect 18-of-19 from the foul line.
The output was the most by a local player in six years, or since Stanley Pringle dropped 50 points against Columbian Dyip in a 133-115 win in the 2018 Commissioner’s Cup while still playing for Northport.
But Bolick’s eye-popping numbers obviously were not enough as the Road Warriors failed to protect a 12-point lead and lost the series opener.
Mike Miranda was the other player to finish in double figures for NLEX with 14.
But the scoring explosion further earned Bolick the respect of the entire Meralco team.
Praises for Bolick
“You have to give it to Robert. You know he’s so good at picking angles and picking sides. It really takes five guys playing defense on him. And that’s Robert Bolick for you,” said Meralco coach Luigi Trillo of the NLEX shooting guard.
“We have a lot of things to fix. We’re not going to the semis if we play defense like that. So you have to give credit to him.”
Allein Maliksi led Meralco with 22 points, but took on Bolick defensively from time to time.
And the veteran gunner admitted it was a daunting task guarding the league’s No. 1 scorer.
“Si Robert when he’s hot, hot talaga. And he’s really a talented guy. Imagine sino ang nakaka-score ng ganyan even nung previous conference pa,” said Maliksi.
“So when you’re facing Robert, you really have to be on your toes and be sharp on defense.”
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