Robert Bolick, NLEX Road Warriors target Top 4 in PBA Season 50 Philippine Cup

NLEX simply didn’t have enough experience in the postseason.

That’s how Robert Bolick summed up the Road Warriors’ PBA Season 49 Philippine Cup campaign that saw them squander a twice-to-beat advantage against Rain or Shine.

“'Yung last conference, 'yun 'yung best chance namin pumasok ng semis. Pero 'yun nga, nakalaban namin 'yung team na dalawang straight nasa semis,” said Bolick.

“Kami baguhan pa, na-expose kami sa playoff magnitude na ganun. Nagulat lang kami iba laruan.”

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NLEX’s only advantage then, he added, was multi-titled mentor coach Jong Uichico.

“Advantage namin, coach lang. Siya lang nag-champion. Mostly sa'min, 'di pa (nag-champion),” he added.

Now with playoff experience and the same lineup, the spitfire guard from San Beda is hopeful they can at least manage to make the top 4 to gain another playoff edge.

“Big challenge for us. Advantage namin siguro togetherness namin, yung chemistry namin,” he said. 

“Hopefully marami kaming natutunan dun sa natalo kami sa Rain or Shine. Andun na kami e, kumbaga expectation ko — 'di ko alam yung sa kanila — andun pa rin kami kahit sa top four man lang.”

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But the third overall pick by NorthPort in 2018 has been in the league long enough to know that’s not going to be a walk in the park.

“Kailangan pukupukan kami nitong All-Filipino na ‘to. Bumalik man lang kami sa same situation, ma-capitalize namin twice-to-beat (advantage),” he said.

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Like most sportswriters, Jan Ballesteros once dreamed of becoming a professional hooper. But he learned the hard way that it’s not for everyone.

He continues to be involved in the sport he loves, but this time as a member of the PBA Press Corps. Aside from primarily covering the PBA, he is also assigned to cover Gilas Pilipinas.