ROBERT Bolick flirted with a triple double and Myke Henry delivered what was expected of him in powering NLEX to a 104-87 win over Blackwater Thursday in the PBA Governors' Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Bolick tallied 24 points, 11 assists and nine rebounds, denied of the season's first triple double when Henry took away a defensive carom from the guard in the game's dying seconds before eventually finishing with 31 points and 10 boards.
Those were enough to inspire the other Road Warriors as they took control in the two middle quarters, built up as much as an 89-62 lead before fending off the Bossing's fiery uprising in the fourth period.
The opening win in Group B also marked the first official victory for coach Jong Uichico after a sabbatical from head coaching chores since 2016.
"I think we defended pretty well naman, especially in the first half," said Uichico. "In the (fourth) quarter they had a run but that's just the way the game is and we should learn how to break that kind of run because it could happen (again) later on."
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Uichico was referring to Blackwater's massive 21-3 surge that put the Bossing within 83-97, still 2:19 left.
Bolick, however, made sure the anxious moments did not last long when he found Ritchie Rodger for a corner 3 to ease the pressure before Henry found Robbie Herndon for another trey that made it 100-85 and fully broke the Bossing's back, only 65 ticks left.
"It's good we have Berto (Bolick) with us," said Uichico. "He knows how to run the team, he knows what's needed when things are not going well, and he will find a way to break the streak, either to score or to defend."
While expressing elation in the opening win, Bolick said still was not completely satisfied as he felt NLEX reverted back to its old bad habits.
"Ayan na naman kami, let down palagi. Dapat di kami mag-relax. Sayang 'yung effort ng halos buong game," said the star playmaker.
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The loss was Blackwater's second straight after bowing to Rain or Shine, 97-110, in their season opener last Tuesday.
Christian David notched 17 points and 10 rebounds to lead the Bossing, who saw Troy Rosario, Sedrick Barefield get off to sluggish starts and Ricky Ledo coming up with yet another disappointing performance.
Rosario still scored 17 and Barefield 16, but Ledo, after tweaking his left foot just 21 seconds into the game, could only manage six markers despite 15 tries from the field. (SB)
The Scores:
NLEX 104 - Henry 31, Bolick 24, Herndon 12, Rodger 10, Semerad 8, Valdez 6, Policarpio 5, Fajardo 5, Amer 3, Nieto 0, Pascual 0.
BLACKWATER 87 - David 17, Rosario 17, Barefield 16, Tungcab 6, Kwekuteye 6, Ledo 6, Chua 5, Ponferrada 4, Hill 4, Montalbo 2, Casio 2, Guinto 2, Suerte 0.
QUARTERS: 23-22, 51-37, 84-62, 104-87
