There’s no denying that Robert Bolick’s absence is huge for NorthPort in the PBA season restart in the bubble mounted at the Clark Freeport Zone.
The team’s top brass decided not to bring him as a precautionary measure since he had just recovered from the ACL injury he suffered last year.
Coach Pido Jarencio didn’t hide how much they miss the 25-year-old. Still, the veteran bench tactician would rather focus on the present.
“Kung sino ‘yung andito, ‘yun lang. Kami we need Robert, but eto na kami e, eto na ‘yung team namin,” he said in the PBA media availability session, Tuesday.
The Batang Pier, said Jarencio, are undermanned for the tourney. They only brought 13 players, and only 12 played versus Blackwater Monday.
Jonathan Grey, who had just recovered from a torn right patellar tendon, did not see action against the Bossing.
But for Jarencio, it’s not an excuse for the team not to compete in the 2020 Philippine Cup, the lone conference taking place this season.
“Undermanned kami ngayon. We only have twelve playing, and there’s spots na kulang kami. Given eto lineup namin, we’ll make the most out of it,” he said.
Northport still managed to compete versus Blackwater, going off on a roaring start to open the game with 15-4 spurt.
However, the Batang Pier could not sustain their momentum. They eventually went down by 17 points, 65-82, early in the final frame.
They still fought back late in the game and came within four, but Blackwater bucked the comeback and won, 96-89.
Still, Jarencio stuck to the positives of the defeat. “We started strong but we finished slow. Medyo masama ang finish last game. Pero may mga positives.
“Maganda lang din, physically kahit papaano walang nag-cramps, walang nasaktan. At least medyo healthy players going to the next games,” he said.
“Assessment siguro, konting adjusment. Siguro first game, walang tuneup-tuneup, tapos may mga bagong players, wala pang chemistry, timing medyo wala pa. Kaya konting adjustment pa.”
