NLEX guard Robert Bolick.–PBA IMAGES
It took a monster sport from Robert Bolick, however the NLEX Highway Warriors can go into Christmas and New 12 months with a optimistic outlook after snapping their lengthy shedding skid within the PBA Commissioner’s Cup on Friday.
“We’ve been spurned so many occasions already. We didn’t wish to fail once more, so we are able to have a contented Christmas,” stated Bolick after placing NLEX on his again and keying the Highway Warriors’ 104-97 win over the slumping Blackwater Bossing at Good Araneta Coliseum.
Now the Highway Warriors hope to get extra wins and, as soon as the vacation revelry passes, give themselves an opportunity to make the quarterfinals of the season-opening convention.
The victory gave NLEX a 3-6 (win-loss) report with two video games left within the eliminations.
NLEX resumes play on Jan. 10 in opposition to Converge, an task the crew has an excellent shot at successful earlier than a possible fate-determining duel in opposition to convention heavyweight Barangay Ginebra in Legazpi Metropolis. A loss in both sport seemingly sends the Highway Warriors to an early trip and places their concentrate on the Philippine Cup.
“[This was] a must-win sport and if you wish to go to the following spherical, it begins in the present day,” stated coach Frankie Lim. “We have now to make it possible for we beat Converge and Ginebra in our final two video games.”
Bolick performed just like the Bolick of previous in simply in second sport since his rights have been acquired from NorthPort and since inking a three-year contract with the Highway Warriors.
He completed with 30 factors—the fifth time in his profession that he breached that quantity—whereas additionally doling out 15 assists and falling simply two rebounds shy of a triple-double.
Easy transition
“The transition is easy due to how good the coaches are,” stated Bolick. “We [have] system and the coaches know methods to make it simple for us.”The Highway Warriors ended a four-game slide, successful for the primary time since Stokley Chaffee changed import Thomas Robinson after a 2-2 report.
Chaffee had 20 factors, 13 rebounds and 4 assists on the day he celebrated his twenty seventh birthday.
Blackwater misplaced for the eighth consecutive time after beginning the convention with a win over Converge.
Import Chris Ortiz had 27 factors and 7 assists in one other sturdy efficiency that ended as soon as extra in defeat.
Bolick made a key cease with eight ticks left after which scored 4 factors to seal the win and present the Bossing the door.
“Credit score additionally to my teammates; they got here able to play,” Bolick stated.
“We struggled a bit, particularly within the first half … I instructed them (gamers) it’s essential to win this sport,” stated Lim, whose costs are actually at ninth place, only one spot out of the quarterfinals cutoff.
Jhan Nermal chipped in 15, Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser had 12 and Enoch Valdez added 11 for NLEX.
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Blackwater drew 17 factors from rookie Christian David, and 16 from RK Ilagan however fell to an eighth straight defeat.