Robert Bolick made Philippine collegiate basketball history on Friday evening.
For only the third time in the past 94 years, a collegiate student-athlete dropped 50 points in a sanctioned contest.
Bolick, who stands at 6-foot-1, shot the lights out against the Arellano Chiefs, shooting an efficient 18-for-25 clip from the field and 9-for-9 from the free throw line.
And no one was more impressed than his mentor Boyet Fernandez.
“Marami naming players na magagaling. Pero siyempre, now that I [have] played against, coached Robert, iba rin yung forte ni Robert,” said Fernandez after San Beda’s 98-79 win.
“You cannot compare other players to him. Nag-iisa lang ang Robert Bolick.”
To put things into perspective, La Salle legend Lim Eng Beng holds the record for most points scored in an NCAA game with 55 points, back in 1974. Ed Cordero, who played for UST, fired a whopping 54 points back in July 29, 1979.
It took three decades for someone to break the 50-point barrier.
The reigning Collegiate Basketball Player of the Year reached the feat with 52 seconds left in the game. Bolick pulled up from way downtown to the roar of the Bedans in attendance.
“Pinalitan ko na last minute kasi maganda na ‘yung 50. At least, mabigyan na siya ng palakpak ng fans ng San Beda,” reflected Fernandez.
Coming close in the NCAA were JRU’s John Wilson (48 – August 26, 2009), Perpetual’s Bright Akhuetie (44 – July 3, 2015), and Letran’s Kevin Alas (43 – October 13, 2012). In the UAAP, UE’s Alvin Pasaol was one point shy of reaching 50 back in October 4, 2017.
Though overwhelmed by the moment, the native of Ormoc, Leyte deflected the credit to his teammates and expressed his gratitude to the school that nurtured him.
“Sila ang tumanggap sa akin, para sa kanila ito. Nagpapasalamat ako sa kanila dahil binigyan nila ako ng opportunity and hopefully, tuloy-tuloy na ito para sa amin,” expressed Bolick.
“Nagpapasalamat ako sa teammates ko kasi hinanap nila ako ngayon, binibigay nila sa akin itong larong ito and hopefully tuloy-tuloy sa amin ito. Thank you sa lahat ng sumuporta sa amin.”
Still, August 24, 2018 will forever live in the long history of the Grand Old League. And if Fernandez had his way, August 24 would be Robert Bolick day in the NCAA.
“It’s Robert Bolick’s day. Declare August 24 as Robert Bolick’s day.”
