Robert Bolick saved NLEX through clutch free throws once again to escape Meralco, 99-96, for its second win in the PBA Season 48 Philippine Cup, Wednesday night at the SMART Araneta Coliseum.
The star guard finished with 26 points, the last four of which he made from the charity stripe inside the game’s final minute that included the pair to put them ahead for good, 92-91, after trailing by as many as 10 at one point.
Bolick went a perfect 10-for-10 from the foul line and also collected eight rebounds and four assists to lead the Road Warriors’ bounce-back victory following a 99-95 loss to Terrafirma last Sunday.
“Buti na lang may Bolick kami,” said head coach Frankie Lim as the 28-year-old scored 16 in the fourth quarter alone. “Isipin mo kung wala ito rito.”
Enoch Valdez came through in the closing moments and finished with 12 points, six rebounds, three steals, and a block in 24 minutes as a starter.
Fellow rookie Jhan Nermal added 11 points as all 12 players fielded by Lim contributed at least two points in the win that hiked their card to 2-1.
The crew is currently at solo third in the team standings after the win, but not before overcoming a tough stand by the Bolts in the dying seconds.
NLEX already built a 98-91 lead behind perfect trips to the line by Bolick and Tony Semerad with 26.3 seconds to go, but Chris Newsome and Allein Maliksi connived to pull Meralco within two, 98-96, with 19.1 ticks remaining.
Valdez had the chance to ice the game with 13.6 seconds left but only managed to split his free throws, leaving the door open for the opposition.
Newsome, however, missed the potential game-tying triple, and Robbie Herndon was there to haul down the rebound as time expired.
NLEX will try to get a winning run going as it takes on the winless Converge (0-3) on Saturday, March 9, 6:15 p.m. still at the Big Dome.
Newsome, on the other hand, set the pace for Meralco with 22 points and eight rebounds in the loss that dropped their record to 1-2.
Raymar Jose provided 14 points, Raymond Almazan had 13 points and seven rebounds in his first game back, while Maliksi supplied 12 points. Cliff Hodge added 10 points and seven rebounds in the loss.
Meralco will next face NorthPort on Sunday, March 10, 3 p.m. in Araneta.
The Scores:
NLEX 99 – Bolick 26, Nermal 12, Valdez 11, Herndon 9, Semerad 9, Marcelo 7, Miranda 7, Fajardo 6, Nieto 5, Amer 3, Pascual 2, Ular 2.
Meralco 96 – Newsome 22, Jose 14, Almazan 13, Maliksi 12, Hodge 10, Torres 9, Black 5, Quinto 5, Banchero 4, Rios 2, Mendoza 0, Caram 0, Pascual 0.
Quarterscores: 26-28, 51-43, 64-72, 99-96.
