The time NLEX had before its PBA Season 48 Commissioner’s Cup duel with Blackwater enabled Robert Bolick to pick up his new team’s scheme of things.
He and the Road Warriors had nine days to prepare for the Bossing after that collapse to TNT last December 13, and the star guard made sure to take advantage of that stretch to acclimatize to the system of Coach Frankie Lim.
Bolick has gotten used to it, judging from the way he performed when they finally plunged back into action on Friday at the SMART Araneta Coliseum.
There, the former B.League import came through with big numbers of 30 points, seven rebounds, 15 assists, and four steals as he helped NLEX eliminate Blackwater from playoff contention by way of a 104-97 result.
All that after only finishing with nine points, a rebound, and four assists against the Tropang Giga, which was also his debut with the team.
Not only did it end their four-game skid but the win, more importantly, kept the Road Warriors’ quarterfinal chances very much alive.
But Bolick refuses to take any credit, instead deflecting as much to Lim and the coaches for enabling his fast transition to the MVP ball club.
“Credit sa mga coaches, lalo na ‘pag nag-video session kami, pinapakita nila kung saan kami nagkakamali, kailangan saan kami nakapwesto. Sa kanila talaga to, kami naglalaro lang kami,” he offered.
“Nilalagay lang nila kami sa magandang sitwasyon and ‘yun, napadali sa amin yung basketball dahil sa kanila,” added the 28-year-old San Beda product.
Another key in this quick adjustment, according to Bolick, is the way they’ve formed that connection with one another even in a short amount of time.
“Ganda ng samahan namin,” said the former NorthPort star, who got traded last December 11. “Nagkakaintindihan na kami kung ano yung mga roles namin.”
