PBA Press Corps salutes Bolick historic performance

As Robert Bolick carries NLEX’s quarterfinal hopes in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Commissioner’s Cup, he did something unexpected that would put him in the record books.

Bolick scored 40 points and 10 assists in the Road Warriors’ 122-110 victory over the Rain or Shine last Saturday at the Ynares Center in Pasig City.

With that, the former San Beda University star emerged as the first local player to achieve a 40-point, 10-assist stat line in 41 years.

The last player to achieve the milestone was the legendary Ramon Fernandez, who dropped a triple-double of 44 points, 17 rebounds, and 15 assists for Beer Hausen en route to a 122-117 overtime win over guest team Northern Consolidated in the 1984 All-Filipino Conference.

But instead of savoring the feat, Bolick was more relieved he was able to help NLEX stay in the quarterfinal hunt.

“There’s no more tomorrow. We still have a chance to make it to the quarterfinals,” Bolick said.

“This doesn’t happen very often and we want to grab the opportunity.”

Last night, Bolick was at it again, dropping an all-around effort of 21 points, five rebounds and eight assists in powering the Road Warriors to a 94-76 rout of Hong Kong Eastern.

NLEX improved to a 6-6 win-loss record for a share of the eighth spot with idle Magnolia to boost its quarterfinal chances while sending San Miguel Beer packing with a 5-7 mark for its first playoff exit since 2015.

With this historic feat, Bolick was named the PBA Press Corps-Pilipinas Live Player of the Week citation for the period of 21 to 26 January.

Bolick earned the nod of the scribes regularly covering the PBA to beat Arvin Tolentino of NorthPort and Zavier Lucero and Jerom Lastimosa of NorthPort.

Tolentino led the Batang Pier to two wins over the Beermen and Blackwater Bossing to finish off the eliminations with a 9-3 card while Lucero and Lastimosa were vital cogs in the Hotshots’ 107-78 triumph over Eastern.