The NLEX Road Warriors began their 2024–25 PBA Philippine Cup campaign with a loss to the San Miguel Beermen—one that seemed to signal a potentially long, futile tournament for Robert Bolick and company.
But, three games later, the Road Warriors find themselves tied with San Miguel at 3-1, just a game behind the unbeaten Magnolia Hotshots. Wins against the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters, TNT Tropang 5G, and Blackwater Bossing have NLEX building momentum, even without Robert Bolick putting up the kind of huge numbers he is known for.
So, what’s changed?
For Bolick, he and his teammates are simply sticking to the script and doing what the coaches are telling them.
“May talo na pangit, may talo na maganda. ‘Yung game na ‘yun [vs. San Miguel], maganda ‘yung ginawa namin, na-overwhelm lang kami sa talent ng San Miguel. Kagandahan lang dun, sinunod pa rin namin ‘yung ineensayo namin sa practice, ‘yung movement namin without the ball, player movement,” Bolick pointed out in the postgame press conference after NLEX beat Blackwater at the Ynares Center in Montalban. “Continue lang namin. Pini-preach lagi ni coach [Jong Uichico]. Itong three games na ‘to nagpapakita, every game nakikita mo naman ‘yung mga players na nag-i-step up sa ‘min.”
Indeed, NLEX appears to have moved away from the Robert Bolick-centered offense it was running in the previous two conferences. The result has been a more dynamic, free-flowing, and unpredictable offense that has made everybody else a threat to score. Bigger picture, this change in style has helped the Road Warriors to a three-game winning streak.
Road Warriors Helping Out Robert Bolick
With Robert Bolick no longer pounding the ball possession after possession, the rest of the Road Warriors are now finding seams to contribute on offense, and it shows in the box scores and the final results: six NLEX players in double-digits in the win versus TNT, four Road Warriors scoring at least 12 in the win over Rain or Shine, and seven players firing at least 5 markers against Blackwater.
“Credit din kay Coach Jong ‘yan saka sa mga skills coach namin… Araw-araw kami nag-ii-skills, so ‘yung mga teammates ko nagbe-believe rin, nabibigyan ng belief ni coach na kaya rin nila,” Bolick added. “Time to shine rin naman nila. ‘Yun ‘yung pini-preach lagi sa ‘kin ni coach na ‘yung teammates ko kelangan pagandahin mo rin, so ‘yun ‘yung tinatrabaho namin.”
Whatever it is NLEX is working on, it certainly looks like it’s working. Already, two Road Warriors have had career games, with JB Bahio registering career-bests of 13 points and 12 caroms against TNT and Xyrus Torres erupting for a career-high 28 versus Rain or Shine. Bolick, meanwhile, is averaging just 17.0 points but is among the league leaders with his 8.0 assists. He is also grabbing 6.3 rebounds a game.
Of course, bigger challenges await NLEX, with Barangay Ginebra San Miguel, Magnolia, and Meralco Bolts all on the horizon. But with Robert Bolick getting help up and down the roster, the Road Warriors just might have enough to ace these big tests.
