Arwind Santos simply advised Robert Bolick to move on as the young star floundered during the most crucial of times in NorthPort’s 2021 PBA Governors’ Cup opener opposite Alaska, Wednesday.
“Ang sinabi ko lang sa kanya, ‘Okay lang ‘yun, ‘wag mo na intindihin yun, ‘wag ka na mag-stay dun sa nangyari kasi tapos na yan e. ‘Di na natin maibabalik ang mga nangyari’,” he told Tiebreaker Times moments after the 85-87 defeat.
Bolick missed both of his shots in the endgame, first a three-pointer from near the top of the key with 18.8 seconds to go that could’ve served as a rousing response to the go-ahead jumper of Robbie Herndon moments prior.
Then, a contested shot from halfcourt with less than three seconds to play, as the Batang Pier no longer had any timeout remaining to call for.
Those failed conversions could’ve potentially completed their comeback from 10 points down spearheaded by the debuting Santos, who eventually finished with a game-high 23 points on four triples in a vintage performance.
Bolick, for his part, struggled, as he shot just 2-of-14 from the floor. He finished with eight points and nine assists, though.
But tomorrow is another day, as the old saying goes. And the 2013 Most Valuable Player wants the 26-year-old to adopt such a mentality.
“Ang maganda rito, meron tayong chance bumawi at mai-correct kung anuman yung mga nagawa nating mali. Ganun lang yun e,” he said.
“Dalawa lang naman ang choice na ginawa mo e. Paano kung na-shoot mo ‘yun? Lahat tayo nagtalunan, ‘di ba? Ganun lang ‘yun. Harapin lang natin ‘yan. ‘Wag ka matakot,” the nine-time PBA champion furthered.
Santos hopes, too, to see the third-year guard out of San Beda emerge as a better player from character-testing challenges such as this.
“Sa natutunan ko, pagka pinapanood mo ang mga games — ako kasi, pinapanood ko ‘yung mga games na ganyan lalo kapag natatalo — minsan nakikita mo meron pa lang much better move o decision,” he said.
“Pwede mo gawin ‘yun sa susunod mong laro,” Santos added.
“Kailangan kalimutan mo na ‘yun. ‘Yun ang magdadala sa’yo to become a better player.”
