Bolick gives NLEX big lift

MANILA, Philippines — When NLEX made a move to acquire Robert Bolick last week, the Road Warriors were counting on his skills, leadership and winning mentality to grease their playoffs drive.

Yesterday, the Road Warriors fully harnessed Bolick’s topnotch all-around game and climbed out of a four-game hole in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup with a crucial 104-97 win over Blackwater at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Bolick scattered 30 points, 15 assists, eight rebounds and four steals as he hit his stride for his new team seven days after debuting with 9-1-4 in a 97-113 loss to TNT.

“Hindi naman talaga ako lang. Credit sa coaches, nilagay nila ako sa magandang sitwasyon, at sa teammates ko din na ready to play,” said the former San Beda star, who capped his heroics with a pair of pivotal steals that led to the dagger free throws and layup in the dying seconds.

“Ilang beses na kaming nabigo so dapat hindi na kami mabigo ngayon para masaya naman ang Pasko.”

Import Stokley Chaffee posted 20 and 13 while rookie Jhan Nermal delivered a breakout game of 16 markers to complement Bolick in the important victory that lifted NLEX to 3-6. The Road Warriors moved half a game behind eighth-running Rain or Shine (3-5).

“I told them it’s very important to win this game. If we want to go to the next round, we start (winning) today,” said coach Frankie Lim, whose charges hope to beat Converge and Ginebra after this to bolster their Last-8 bid.

NLEX sent the Bossing reeling to their eighth straight loss and out of the quarterfinals race at 1-8 overall.

Meanwhile, Calvin Abueva’s long-delayed Season 48 debut may materialize today when Magnolia (8-1) battles Converge (1-7).

Abueva missed the early skirmishes after undergoing hemorrhoidectomy in October then hit another snag when he injured his calf early this month.

The league-leading Hotshots and the struggling FiberXers clash at 6:15 p.m. following the 3 p.m. opener between Terrafirma (2-6) and ROS (3-5).