Taking the top seed entering the Final Four of the NCAA Seniors Basketball tournament has been a tradition for the San Beda College Red Lions for the last 10 years. Tuesday afternoon, the Red Lions were able to extend their streak to 11 seasons after blasting the Arellano University Chiefs, 80-73.
Currently in his second year with San Beda, first as a student-athlete, Robert Bolick knows how important it is for the San Beda community to take top seed but for him, it has no bearing.
“Para sa akin, wala lang eh,” said Bolick, who finished the game with 14 points, seven rebounds, and four assists. “Sabi ko sa kanila, number one, two, three, or four, anyone can beat anyone.”
For him, it was all about beating Arellano for the third straight time. And he did so by helping limit Jio Jalalon to a horrid 4-of-17 shooting for just 14 points.
“So sabi ko, let’s just not focus on getting number one – let’s just win!”
“Sa team ko, di ko alam yung motivation nila, pero para sa akin, back in La Salle pa, I want to go up against the best players,” the defensive specialist said.
“Sa La Salle, I was guarding Kiefer [Ravena] so siyempre you have to be more motivated to play. When I came here sa NCAA, my mind was only to stop Jalalon.
“Siyempre, kasi he’s the best point guard in amateur basketball. You can’t stop both of them – Jalalon and Salado. They’re fast e that’s why we can’t trap. Yun yung motivation ko,” he furthered.
Moreover, the Ormoc City native is not worried that the Perpetual Altas or the Mapua Cardinals have scouted them in the playoff game since, according to him, their instinct and connection with each other can’t be scouted.
“Not worried kasi kahit ma-scout nila kami, yung team work namin, kahit anong mangyari, mahahanap namin sila,” said Bolick, who is averaging a team-high 3.7 assists per game.
“Mahahanap namin si AC [Soberano]. Si Ben [Adamos], mahahanap namin siya. We know that we just have to stick to our advantage.”
“Our confidence is high, but we shouldn’t be cocky. Tomorrow, it’s back to work again,” he declared.
