TIM Cone found the perfect antidote to Robert Bolick in the person of big sophomore guard Stephen Holt.
Using his length and size to his advantage, last season’s Rookie of the Year was the catalyst in Barangay Ginebra’s 109-100 win over NLEX in its PBA Commissioner’s Cup debut as Holt put the cuffs on last year’s scoring champion.
Bolick finished with 18 points and was held to 4-of-12 shooting by Holt just three days after exploding for a conference-high 39 points in the Road Warriors’ 104-99 come-from-behind upset of the San Miguel Beermen.
READ Ginebra opens campaign looking sharp in masterful win over NLEX
With Holt serving as the main Bolick stopper of the Kings, the streak-shooting NLEX guard was held to just two points in the first half and failed to get going in the crucial stretch the way he did against the Beermen.
Holt stressed he’s been ‘guarding out of position’ for most of his maiden conference with Ginebra after arriving in a trade with Terrafirma, and is more comfortable taking on the defensive job against Bolick.
“At the end of the day, I was guarding out of position, having to guard guys like [former SMB import EJ] Anosike and sometimes [Allen] Durham last conference. Even RHJ (Rondae Hollis Jefferson). I mean, if I was playing in Europe, most likely that wouldn’t be my matchup,” said the 32-year-old Fil-Am.
Bolick who was 3-of-3 from the three-point distance and 2-of-3 from the four-point line against San Miguel, was 0-of-5 combined from long range against the Kings.
“I’m used to guarding quicker guys. I have a game plan within a game plan. Obviously, I use my length, quickness, and stuff,” said Holt.
Holt also did his share offensively. He led the Kings with 26 points including 20 in the third quarter when Ginebra broke away for good from NLEX.
Last season’s No. 1 overall pick shot 83 percent from beyond the arc (5-of-6) and had a pair of rebounds and assists without a turnover in 36 minutes of play.
Holt though, is tempering expectations despite the hot start by the Kings.
“It’s just one win. We can’t get too excited. Obviously there’s a lot of great players in this league, lot of great teams and anybody could be anybody on a given day if you’re not ready or prepared,” he said.
“So again we have a long stretch ahead of us and again we just got to be ready for Friday.”
By that he meant Ginebra’s next game against Phoenix over the weekend, also at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
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