LADY Luck continued to smile on NLEX as it fashioned an 80-72 win over a Blackwater crew missing its two main players Friday in the PBA Philippine Cup at the Ynares Center in Montalban, Rizal.
Robert Bolick led the Road Warriors' balanced attack with 20 points, including crucial back-to-back 3s that highlighted his 10-point fourth quarter, but undeniably a major factor was the absence of Sedrick Barefield and Christian David exiting the game early also due to injury.
Although it took it some time, NLEX did manage to pounce on the opportunity to lead by as many as nine points before Bolick's clutch baskets finally sent coach Jong Uichico and his players on their way to a third straight win and a 3-1 record overall.
"Blackwater is different, they gave us a hard time. They took us out of our rhythm," said Uichico, who previously credited his team's wins over Rain or Shine and TNT to the fact those two were playing their conference debuts when they met.
"Berto (Bolick) bailed us out in today's game. When things aren't going well then you know na aasahan mo na he will bail you out, which he did today," added Uichico.
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"Credit sa Blackwater. Wala 'yung dalawang big guns nila pero they came to play. So credit to their team, nagulat at nahirapan kami," said Bolick, who also notched seven rebounds and six assists.
"So credit din sa bench namin, kay Kevin (Alas), kay (JB) Bahio. They stepped in, binigyan kami ng komportableng lead," added Bolick. "Tapos nu'ng fourth quarter... wala lang trina-trabaho ko lang. Buti lang na-shoot ko nu'ng fourth quarter."
Bench players did play crucial roles for NLEX as Bahio supplied 12 points and eight rebounds while Alas and Dominic Fajardo each had 10 points while combining for 10 boards.
BJ Andrade had 15 points, RK Ilagan 14 and Bradwyn Guinto 13 for Blackwater, which failed to follow up its 120-98 breakthrough win over NorthPort last Friday and dropped to a 1-3 slate.
The Bossing stayed afloat for the longest time despite playing without their two players who combined for 39 points against the Batang Pier, shrugging off an 11-point second period and an eight-point halftime deficit to hang on to the Road Warriors coattails.
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Blackwater even came charging back from a 55-64 deficit and threatened at 64-68 following three-point plays by Andrade and Guinto that sandwiched an Ilagan trey.
Bolick, however, had the most effective counter by booming in his only two triples of the game that pegged a 74-66 count going to the last 2:18 of play. (NC)
