Bolick starts new PBA tour as new NLEX team leader

NLEX looks to fan the flames of its fading playoff hopes in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Commissioner’s Cup on Wednesday when it unveils the talented Robert Bolick in a clash against corporate sibling TNT, which is also eager to regain its footing in a tournament it has been pegged as a favorite.

The 2-5 Road Warriors will try to break out of a three-game losing streak and breach the race’s qualifying threshold for the playoffs in the 8 p.m. clash at PhilSports Arena, trading for Bolick to obviously be the team’s new leader with Kevin Alas out because of a third ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) injury.

With all eyes undoubtedly on Bolick, the former NorthPort guard and a fixture in the national basketball program who left to play in Japan, is expected to immediately help the NLEX bid from going sideways as it also deals with the absence of Alas and the struggles of returning ace forward Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser.

“To my new team, my new family … thank you very much for the opportunity and for welcoming me here in my new home. I am so excited to start this new chapter of my career,” Bolick said on Tuesday in an Instagram entry where he also thanked his former club.“I will not let you down. I will do everything, and my very best to contribute to the future championship of this team,” he added.

Same opponent

Expect the sister teams to give no quarters as the 2-3 Tropang Giga are also looking to right their ship. The perennial contenders are also on a losing slide, and its crew led by import Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, Jayson Castro and Calvin Oftana are all raring to climb out of the lower half the standings.An emotional angle will complement the high-stakes clash in the Pasig venue as NLEX is also scheduled to hold a jersey retirement ceremony for Asi Taulava, the decorated bruiser whose career blossomed with TNT.

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Interestingly, Bolick’s last game before leaving the PBA was against TNT in a Governors’ Cup loss last season. He finished with 14 points in that contest.

Meanwhile, Terrafirma is also looking to end its dry spell when it tackles winless Converge in the 4 p.m. curtain raiser. INQ