In his two years with the De La Salle University Green Archers, Robert Bolick had little to no playing time under former La Salle head coach Robert Bolick. To put things into perspective, the Ormoc-native played a total of just 141 minutes during those two years.
Playing behind student-athletes like Almond Vosotros, Oda Tampos, Luigi dela Paz, and Gabby Reyes, Bolick still relishes every moment he had in Taft Avenue. And for him, he would not be the player that he is today without it.
“Masaya siyempre kasi lahat ng mga nilipatan kong teams, winning teams,” the 6’1 guard, who helped lift San Beda back to the finals for the 11th straight year, said.
“La Salle, winning team. Dito, winning team. So, malaki ang expectations.”
Little did he expect though that he will play a major role with the San Beda Red Lions. The do-it-all guard is playing at an average of 23.6 minutes per game with norms of 9.0 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 3.7 assists per game – a far cry from his 1.8 points, 0.7 rebounds, and 0.6 assists in his second and final year with La Salle.
“Siyempre sa akin, kasi bench player lang ako ng La Salle, tapos ngayon, ganito na pala ang nangyari sa akin,” he reflected.
“So siyempre nagpapasalamat ako kay coach Jamike, sa management, kila [Javee] Mocon kasi in-accept din nila ako kahit alam nila na bench warmer lang ako sa La Salle.”
Even if he played sparingly for the Green Archers, he admitted that he absorbed every lesson that he could take in. And for that he will always be grateful.
“Hindi ko masabi na championship experience kasi di ako naglaro eh, kahit one second,” the one-time UAAP gold medalist said as he was part of the UAAP Season 76 champion team. “Pero okay lang din.”
“At least na-experience ko kung ano yung makikita ko sa mga teammates ko, kung paano talaga, yung makikita ko sa dugout, sa training namin.”
“Nakita ko kung ano talaga ang ginawa nila, so siyempre, nagagamit ko rin dito. Kahit naman sila, championship team din naman ang San Beda so alam na rin nila,” he furthered.
Entering the finals, Bolick can achieve a feat rarely seen in the local collegiate scene, be a UAAP and NCAA champion. However, standing in his way is the consensus top point guard in the game today Jio Jalalon. The “Bus Stopper” plans on utilizing every thing he had learned from the past three years for that one golden dream.
“I’m looking forward sa Thursday talaga. Kasi sabi ko nga, sabi nga ni coach, si Jio yung pinakamagaling na point guard,” he closed.
“Sino ang hindi inspired na babantayan yun? Kaya tuwang-tuwa ako na babantayan ko na naman sya ulit for the fourth time.”
