ROBERT Bolick came up with his usual game and Mike Watkins asserted his inside presence all game long in towing NLEX to a 107-95 win over Blackwater Saturday in the PBA Commissioner's Cup at the Ynares Center in Antipolo.
Limited to just three points in the Road Warriors' first game, Bolick notched 23 points and 10 assists while Watkins was a tower of power with his own double-double of 26 points and 25 rebounds.
As a result, NLEX was able to withstand George King's 40-point performance, bounce back from an 87-114 beatdown from NorthPort last Thursday and improve to an even 1-1 slate.
"His inside presence gave Blackwater some trouble. He's just a matchup problem for them like we had matchup problems also with King, he had 40 points," noted winning coach Jong Uichico.
"Except that mas malaki positive effect ng inside game ni Watkins compared to King's 40 points, in the total effect of the game," added Uichico, visibly pleased with the way his team was able to protect its hold of the lead unlike in the Batang Pier game when they squandered an early 16-point spread.
Sponsored content:
"Just don't play like we played the other game. It's as simple as that. It was embarrassing, the way we played," said Uichico, referring to his pre-game admonition to his team.
Bolick was also glad his team learned its lessons from the NorthPort game, when he shot a paltry 1-of-11 from the floor and sat out the entire fourth quarter.
"Nu'ng first game sinunod namin gameplan ni coach, ang ganda. Ang problema nu'ng humabol na sila umalis kami doon sa ilang buwan na naming ine-ensayo," said Bolick.
"So itong game na ito in-emphasize ni coach na kahit ano mangyari ituloy lang kung ano ginagawa namin, kung maayos man kami o hindi."
Like in the NorthPort game, NLEX again started out hot and raced to a 20-8 lead, only to experience some anxious moments when Blackwater came charging back and even took a 32-26 lead.
Sponsored content:
Bolick and Watkins, with some help from Richie Rodger, Xyrus Torres and Enoch Valdez, quickly restored order for the Road Warriors, however, resulting in a sustained charge to an 81-69 lead heading to the final 12 minutes.
Despite sorely missing the services of Sedrick Barefield, who scored 24 points in a 100-118 loss to Magnolia but sidelined this time by a foot injury, the Bossing kept within 76-85.
But a 15-4 salvo, capped by back-to-back corner triples from Anthony Semerad, gave NLEX a 100-80 lead inside the last five minutes of play. (NC)
The Scores :
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
