After rescuing NLEX, Bolick says ‘we can’t play like this’
Robert Bolick once again played the closer’s role on Saturday with his four-point shot sealing NLEx’s come-from-behind victory over Terrafirma in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup.
The 95-85 win at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium may look cool in the standings, especially after the Road Warriors secured their place in the quarterfinals, but Bolick was the first to admit that the manner in which they got the result left plenty to be desired.
“We can’t keep playing like this,” Bolick said in Filipino after finishing with 20 points on 6-of-13 shooting that went with seven rebounds, six assists and three steals.
The Road Warriors had to overhaul a 15-point deficit, as Bolick and rookie L-Jay Gonzales, who added 16 points, eight rebounds and five assists, sparked a third-quarter blitz that enabled them to avoid being a statistic in what has been a week filled with upsets or near-upsets.
NLEx improved to 7-2, good for solo second as of press time, with Rain or Shine on top at 7-1 going into its match with Magnolia in the nightcap.
“We need to have a killer instinct in these kinds of situations,” Bolick continued. “The way we played in the third quarter is how we should be playing every game, every quarter. I’m sure we will hear it from coach Jong [Uichico].
Uichico, however, sounded more diplomatic.
“If there’s anything positive from this game is that we’re already in (the playoffs),” Uichico said. “At least the pressure is off, but we’re still aiming for more. We already got to the top eight, but we want to get into the top four.”
They play the Elasto Painters next on Wednesday, followed by a match against the desperate Converge FiberXers on May 2, both at the same venue, before wrapping up the eliminations on May 5 against the Titan Ultra Giant Risers, still at Ninoy.
The top four teams in the playoffs will be given twice-to-beat incentives and NLEx wants to make sure it can get all the edge it can in its aspirations of a deep run.
Sitting in third at the table is Barangay Ginebra, which improved to 6-2 after hurdling Robert Upshaw III and Blackwater, 115-108, on Friday night. The Gin Kings will aim for a quarter slot on Sunday against Titan Ultra at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Phoenix eyes a sixth win in nine outings in order to tie TNT for fifth in the 5:15 p.m. opener against Converge and the Fuel Masters’ former import Donovan Smith.
Converge is tied for ninth with Terrafirma at 3-6, trailing San Miguel Beer, which is in eighth position at 4-5 and Magnolia, in seventh at 4-4, before playing Rain or Shine.
