BACOLOD - Robert Bolick made one of the most spectacular plays in PBA All-Star game history to lead Team Mark to a thrilling 140-140 draw against Team Japeth Sunday night before an overflow crowd at the University of Saint La Salle gymnasium.
Bolick completed a five-point play in the final 17.8 seconds that knotted the final count as Calvin Oftana missed out on a potential game-winning basket at the buzzer for Team Japeth.
The NLEX star finished with 13 points, but made 10 of his output in the final quarter including two pressure-packed baskets from the four-point area.
None of which was important than the second one which he sank while getting a foul to boot from Oftana.
Bolick then calmly hit the bonus free throw to tie the score and capped an amazing comeback by Team Mark from as much as a 32-point deficit.
It was the first draw in the All-Star game since 2017 when Gilas Pilipinas and the PBA Mindanao All-Stars ended up tied at 114-all during the 2017 edition of the extravaganza held in Cagayan de Oro City.
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With the game ending up in a draw, the PBA Board decided to give both teams P150,000 each.
"Akala ko wala na talaga kami. Thirty seconds, parang laman ata sila ng siyam? E, ganun talaga. Bilog ang bola," said Bolick as he tried to downplay his endgame heroics.
The shooting guard out of San Beda ended up as co-MVP with Japeth Aguilar.
Bolick actually completed what teammate CJ Perez started.
The San Miguel gunner had a game-high 39 points, including 28 in the second period as he kept Team Mark afloat in the wake of Team Japeth's sizzling start and led by as many as 56-24 early in the second period of the final game of the weekend festivities presented by Arena Plus.
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Team captain Barroca finished with 18 points and had eight in the final quarter, June Mar Fajardo added 17 while rookie Ricci Rivero with 16 including a couple of dazzling moves to the basket that drew oohs and aahs from the packed crowd.
Roger Pogoy led Team Japeth with 25 points, all of which he scored in the first three quarters, while Marcio Lassiter had 16 of his 24 points in the second period.
Aguilar came through with 21 points and carried the team on his shoulders in the fourth quarter where he had 10 points including two rim-rattling dunks to the basket.
Curiously, PBA chief statistician Fidel Mangonon III noted that in the 2008 staging of the All-Star game also held in the City of Smiles, the game likewise ended up in a draw. But the league heeded the call of the fans to extend it to an overtime period, opening the door for South All-Stars' 163-158 win over their North counterparts.
Both Team Japeth and Team Mark were also declared co-winners in the traditional dance contest preceding the All-Star game, netting both teams another P150,000 each.
The scores
Team Japeth (140) - Pogoy 25, Lassiter 24, Aguilar 21, Malonzo 17, Tolentino 13, Romeo 11, Lee 9, Newsome 7, Oftana 7, Trollano 2, Pringle 2, Dionisio 2, Ahanmisi 0.
Team Mark (140) - Perez 39, Barroca 20, Abueva 18, Fajardo 17, Rivero 15, Bolick 13, Perkins 9, Tiongson 3, Jalalon 2, Hodge 2, Sangalang 2, Norwood 0, Castro 0, Yap 0, Pinto 0.
Quarterscores: 46-20; 79-68; 111-104; 140-140.
