Coach Boyet Fernandez and the Red Lions were visibly dejected as they made their way to the press room of the Filoil Flying V Centre after San Beda had picked up their 13th straight win of the season.
“Well, we’re happy we got this win, but we have to go back tomorrow and maybe think of what our priorities are,” lamented Fernandez.
San Beda’s 55-50 win against the Perpetual Altas was a sight for sore eyes, as the Red Lions played one-on-one basketball for the majority of the game, with Donald Tankoua bailing them out in crunch time.
And no one was more disappointed than San Beda’s lead floor general Robert Bolick himself.
Averaging 12.5 points on 41.2 percent shooting and 5.0 assists prior to this game, the 6-foot guard was held down to a horrid 5-for-18 shooting and a disappointing two assists. Moreover, the Red Lions only tallied 11 assists in the game, six below their norms.
“We only had eleven assists, not San Beda basketball. Eleven assists, it’s too low,” Fernandez asserted.
“Blame niyo na sa akin ‘yun kasi my role since pumasok si Coach Boyet, or kahit noong dati pa ako na player is to get my teammates involved, and hindi ko ginawa ‘yun ngayon,” said Bolick, a native of Ormoc, Leyte.
“I was looking for my shots, forcing my shots, it’s my fault, kaya kami ganoon.”
Still, Bolick feels fortunate that Red Lions were still there to support him after the game, even if he had hampered their offense Tuesday afternoon.
“I took 18 shots, and that’s not me. Blame it on me. In this team, I should never do that. I should know where my teammates should score, or call the plays for them to score,” said the 21-year-old.
“Human lang ako, I make mistakes.
“I love my teammates, they still support me even though ganoon. They know how I play, but I didn’t play my game today. So you know, I really don’t know why I’m the best player [of the game]. I would give it to Donald or to Joe (Presibitero), he had five assists,” Bolick admitted.
With the elimination round nearing its end, knowing and owning up to their mistakes can only lead to good things for the defending champions.
“We make mistakes but we’ll talk about it as a team, as a man. We know our mistakes and tomorrow, we’ll clean it up,” Bolick declared.
