MANILA, Philippines – After a forgettable performance in NLEX’s conference opener, Robert Bolick rediscovered his touch as the Road Warriors vented their ire on the Blackwater Bossing with a 107-95 rout in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup at the Ynares Center in Antipolo on Saturday, November 30.
Bolick — who scored only 3 points on 1-of-11 shooting in NLEX’s 114-87 loss to the NorthPort Batang Pier two days ago — atoned for his lackluster showing as he went off for 23 points, along with 5 rebounds, 10 assists, and 2 steals in the wire-to-wire win.
Import Mike Watkins led the Road Warriors for the second straight contest with another double-double of 26 points and 25 rebounds as they spoiled the game-high 40-point outing of Blackwater’s high-scoring import George King.
“[Watkins’] inside presence gave Blackwater some trouble. It was just a matchup problem for them, like we had matchup problems also with King – who had 40 points,” said NLEX head coach Jong Uichico.
“[However], Watkins’ inside game had more positive effect compared to King’s 40 points,” he added in Filipino.
Watkins and Bolick wasted little time making their presence felt against Blackwater, putting up 17 and 15 points, respectively, in the first half to give NLEX a 53-46 lead at the break.
By the end of the third quarter, Watkins already had a 20-20 stat line for the Road Warriors with 24 points and 20 rebounds as they slowly pulled away from the Bossing with an 81-69 cushion heading into the fourth frame.
In the fourth, it was Richie Rodger and Anthony Semerad who took over for the Road Warriors with 6 points apiece as their lead ballooned to as many as 20 points, 100-80, with only 5 minutes to play.
Rodger finished with 14 points, while Xyrus Torres and Enoch Valdez also ended up in double-digit scoring with 12 and 11, respectively.
Aside from King — who shot 12-of-31 from the field to reach 40 points — Justin Chua was the only other Bossing to score in double figures with 13 markers.
Blackwater, which missed the services of its top rookie Sedrick Barefield due to an injury, remained winless in two matches.
In the second game, Arvin Tolentino recorded his second PBA career triple-double as the Batang Pier stayed unbeaten in the Commissioner’s Cup with a 113-101 beatdown of the Terrafirma Dyip.
On the heels of a 29-point performance against NLEX, Tolentino flaunted his all-around game as he produced 21 points, 13 rebounds, and 10 assists for the 2-0 Batang Pier.
NorthPort import Kadeem Jack topscored with 32 points, to go with 15 rebounds, as the Batang Pier took advantage of a short-handed Terrafirma squad which played without its import Ryan Richards, who was subbed out after just one second due to back spasms, newly acquired guard Terrence Romeo due to a calf injury, and Christian Standhardinger.
Vic Manuel — who was also acquired by Terrafirma together with Romeo in exchange for Juami Tiongson and Andreas Cahilig — showed promise in his debut in a Dyip uniform as he led the team with 23 points on 9-of-17 shooting.
Rookie Mark Nonoy backstopped Manuel with 21 points in the lopsided affair that saw the Dyip (0-2) trail by as many as 23 markers.
First Game
NLEX 107 – Watkins 26, Bolick 23, Rodger 14, Torres 12, Valdez 11, Semerad 8, Amer 6, Herndon 3, Bahio 2, Mocon 2, Policarpio 0, Nermal 0.
Blackwater 95 – King 40, Chua 13, Tungcab 8, Kwekuteye 8, David 8, Montalbo 8, Ilagan 5, Escoto 5, Guinto 0, Jopia 0, Ponferrada 0, Suerte 0, Hill.
Quarters: 22-17, 53-46, 81-69, 107-95.
Second Game
NorthPort 113 – Jack 32, Tolentino 21, Yu 13, Munzon 12, Navarro 10, Nelle 9, Bulanadi 5, Onwubere 5, Taha 4, Flores 2, Tratter 0, Cuntapay 0.
Terrafirma 101 – Manuel 23, Nonoy 21, Pringle 15, Ferrer 14, Sangalang 12, Ramos 10, Melecio 3, Olivario 0, Catapusan 3, Paraiso 0, Hernandez 0, Zaldivar 0.
Quarters: 32-24, 56-40, 85-69, 113-101.
– Rappler.com
