Bolick, Road Warriors stay hot with thorough spilling of Fuel Masters
Robert Bolick was back on the press conference podium after getting Best Player of the Game honors for the second straight time as NLEx stayed hot in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup.
While Bolick had stellar numbers anew in a 120-102 thumping of the Phoenix Fuel Masters on Easter Sunday, heroes were also aplenty as the Road Warriors notched their fourth win in five matches in the midseason conference.
Schonny Winston waxed hot at the start, Tony Semerad knocked down his outside shots aside from being physical defensively, while Kevin Alas came up with a big offensive showing in the fourth quarter that completely shut off Phoenix’s bid to complete its rally.
“We were a joy to watch there,” Bolick said in Filipino. “We’re playing with good chemistry, we’re sharing the ball and there’s always one player who is red hot each quarter.”
While Bolick ended up with 22 points, 14 assists, five rebounds and two steals, the game started with Winston hitting all of his 16 points in the first half, 11 of which came in the opening period when NLEx rolled to a big lead.
Import Cady Lalanne was consistent throughout and had 29 points and 10 rebounds in a performance Bolick later described as quiet, just like how NBA star Kawhi Leonard would produce his output.
Semerad put up 15 points coming from five three-point shots even, as Alas connected on 16 of his 18 in the fourth, which enabled NLEx to restore its huge lead after Phoenix threatened to close the gap in the third.
“We had six players in double figures and if that happens in a game, then you got a great chance of winning,” coach Jong Uichico said. “So, it’s important that we have that kind of distribution on offense, unless there’s at least one player who’s hot.”
Time to cool heels
The victory should be a feel-good one for the NLEx camp as it takes another long break after playing for the first time since its thrilling comeback over Barangay Ginebra nine days earlier.
NLEx will have another nine-day respite before returning to action on April 14 against the winless Macau Black Knights at Ynares Center in Antipolo.
Meanwhile, Phoenix fell to a 3-2 record despite 20 points from Ricci Rivero and 18 from Jason Perkins, who also had seven rebounds off the bench.
The Fuel Masters got to within four sometime in the second and seven in the third behind Rivero and Perkins, but their momentum dissipated as the Road Warriors pulled away again.
Import James Dickey III struggled offensively with only 13 points despite 14 rebounds.
Phoenix returns next Sunday at the same venue against Barangay Ginebra, which at presstime was playing San Miguel Beer in a showdown between sister teams looking for a big win early in the conference.
