Games tomorrow:
(Ynares Center)
5 p.m. — Terrafirma vs Magnolia
7:30 p.m. — TNT vs San Miguel Beer
NLEX banked on Robert Bolick’s hot hands down the stretch to extend its winning streak to three games after silencing Blackwater, 80-72, as the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Philippine Cup visited the Ynares Center-Montalban in Rizal Friday night.
Limited to just 10 points in the first three periods, the streaky scorer poured 10 of his 20 markers in the final period, including back-to-back long bombs in the last three minutes that kept the Road Warriors at a safe distance to improve to a 3-1 win-loss record.
“Blackwater’s defense gave us a hard time. They took us out of our rhythm. Berto (Bolick) bailed us out in today’s game. He was in his usual self. When things don’t go out so well you know he’ll bail you out… which he did today,” NLEX head coach Jong Uichico said of his ace guard.
Bolick shot 7-of-14 from the field and filled the stats sheet with seven rebounds, six assists and a steal for the Road Warriors, who controlled the boards 57-35.
Protecting a four-point advantage, Bolick sank two straight three-pointers sandwiched between a Troy Malilin basket to give NLEX a 74-66 advantage with 2:22 left in the game.
“He shot two big three-pointers to keep that lead. We’re thankful for Berto for bailing us out tonight,” Uichico said.
JB Bahio added 12 points and grabbed eight rebounds while Kevin Alas and Dominic Fajardo added 10 markers each for NLEX, which has not dropped a game since an opening day setback at the hands of San Miguel Beer.
Bolick, however, deflected the credit to the team’s collective effort.
“Actually, I was shooting terribly in the fourth quarter but what I’m working at kicked in and luckily I made my shots,” Bolick said.
“We played as a team and everybody contributed. We did well moving the ball in the second half,” he added.
The Bossing lost big man Christian David to an injury early in the game and played sans rookie Sedrick Barefield. The No. 2 overall pick in the last Draft and averaging 18.2 points per game was on the bench sidelined by a hamstring injury.
NLEX (80) --- Bolick 20, Bahio 12, Fajardo 10, Alas 10, Semerad 9, Nieto 5, Torres 5, Ramirez 4, Policarpio 3, Mocon 2, Rodger 0, Herndon 0.
BLACKWATER (72) — Andrade 15, Ilagan 14, Guinto 13, Ayonayon 9, Casio 5, Chua 5, Escoto 5, Mallilin 4, Tratter 2, Mitchell 0, Caperal 0, David 0.
Quarters: 10-17, 36-28, 52-50, 80-72.