ANTIPOLO — Robert Bolick is simply hoping that the breakthrough he has long been praying for will be answered this time, now that NLEX finds itself in a situation so familiar in the PBA Season 50 Governors’ Cup playoffs.
The Road Warriors have moved just a win away from the semifinals after taking Game 2 of their best-of-5 quarters affair with Phoenix Super LPG, but the star guard refuses to look too far ahead given their experiences in the past.
“Minsan ilang beses ka nag-try hard, biyayaan naman sana ng Panginoon, ‘di ba,” he said moments after their 124-117 victory at the Ynares Center here.
‘Berto’ has been struggling to get past the quarters since coming to the MVP club, none more painful than their campaigns during the 2025 Philippine Cup and the recent Commissioner’s Cup in which they blew twice-to-beat edges.
After losing to Rain or Shine in the all-Filipino wars, NLEX got beaten twice by a Tropang 5G side that was then starting to figure things out with Bol Bol.
Currently, the team isn’t armed with any win-once incentive, but is now facing a challenge similar to what it encountered in the past: closing it out.
(C) PBA Images
The Road Warriors could do so in Game 3 this Saturday to bring the franchise to the ‘final four’ for the first time in half a decade, or since Yeng Guiao steered them to the semis of the same conference during the 2021-22 season.
Bolick believes that the disappointments they suffered—as well as the major developments that unfolded along the way—have toughened up the entire squad, and is simply wishing that it could translate to a much-needed W.
“Medyo nag-mature na rin kami. Daming heartbreaks na pinagdaanan,” the third overall pick of the 2018 PBA Rookie Draft said. “Talo sa Talk N Text, sa Rain or Shine, sa Meralco, San Miguel. Lagi kaming natatalo sa quarterfinals eh.
“Sakto dumating si Coach Jimmy, may bago siyang style, sistema. Tapos nag-mature na rin lahat. Dumating si Schonny. Na-injure ‘yung import namin, naghanap kami, ‘yung bagong import namin swak din sa amin.
“Ito na ‘yung opportunity kumbaga, binibigay na sa amin, 2-0,” added Bolick, who finished with 31 points and six rebounds in their Game 2 victory.
But again, Bolick opts not to feel any sense of confidence or comfort whatsoever until they get the job done in the potential series closer.
“‘Di ko muna iniisip ‘yun, focus muna sa Sabado,” the former scoring champion stated. “Kapag nanalo na, tsaka na siguro giginhawa, tutal may break naman. Doon na siguro papasok ‘yung sarap ng pinagtrabahuhan mo.
“Sobrang tagal ko na rin sa PBA, eight years na ako. Mabigyan man lang sana. Tagal na ng NLEX, twelve years na, tatlong beses pa lang nag-semis. At least maging part man lang kami ng grupo na nakapag-semis.”
