The NLEX Road Warriors are tied at the top of the PBA Philippine Cup standings with the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters thanks to their 92-83 victory over the Titan Ultra Giant Risers. Generally, it’s something to be happy about heading into the league’s three-week break, as that means NLEX has the inside track on that coveted top four finish.
Just don’t tell that to Robert Bolick and NLEX.
The main architect of NLEX’s Sunday win, Berto told reporters after the game that he and his fellow Road Warriors aren’t quite happy yet—not with a challenging schedule that could still leave NLEX sliding all the way down.
“Sabi nga ni coach bago mag-start ‘yung game, nagkumpul-kumpulan kami lahat dun, one to six, pare-pareho kaming 6-2 (TNT is 5-2). Kahit 6-2 kami hindi kami masaya kasi ‘yung last three games namin, [against] top four pa—Talk ‘N’ Text [TNT Tropang 5G], Magnolia [Hotshots], saka Converge [FiberXers],” Bolick said. “So, ‘yung break na ‘to gagamitin naming motivation pa… Pwede pa kami matalo ng three straight, mag 6-5 kami, pwede pa kami bumaba sa eight or seven…”
Bolick Lauds Teammates, Wants Them to Let It Fly
Berto’s concern is understandable. TNT, Magnolia, and Converge are playing great basketball, too, like NLEX, and are regarded as title contenders. It doesn’t mean the Road Warriors can’t take those teams down, especially if the rest of the Road Warriors step up along with Bolick.
“‘Yung mga teammates ko, sina [JB] Bahio, lahat ‘yang mga ‘yan grabe magtrabaho ‘yan, so kelangan i-reward mo sila kaya kumpiyansa ako pag pinapasa ko sa kanila,” Bolick said of his hardworking, all-heart teammates. “Alam ko mai-shoot nila. Alam rin ni coach [Jong Uichico] ‘yan na ‘tong mga batang ‘to grabeng magtrabaho, so pag meron sila, tira lang nila.”
With Bolick starting to find his rhythm offensively (28 and 34 points in his last two games), it’s almost a certainty he will be a marked man once action resumes.
