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Robert Bolick leads NLEX in their PBA Philippine Cup opener against his former team NorthPort. –PBA IMAGES
Robert Bolick powered NLEX to a 107-100 overtime victory over his former team NorthPort on Friday for a positive start to its campaign in the PBA Philippine Cup at Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Bolick finished with 31 points, his sixth career game of scoring at least 30, as the Road Warriors prevailed despite needing five extra minutes to bring down the Batang Pier.
It was Bolick’s first game against NorthPort, the team he played from his rookie year in 2019 until the end of last season when he moved to Japan for what turned out to be a cup of coffee with B.League second division side Fukushima Firebonds.
SCHEDULE: 2024 PBA Philippine Cup
NLEX acquired Bolick last December after working out a deal to acquire his rights.
Bolick cooled off in the extension, but Tony Semerad and Dave Marcelo hit key baskets to put away a NorthPort side that made it competitive throughout.
Robert Bolick makes sure he acknowledges his former teammates and coaches after leading NLEX to a 107-100 overtime win over NorthPort in the PBA Philippine Cup. | @jonasterradoINQ pic.twitter.com/x83HWJ3gUG
— INQUIRER Sports (@INQUIRERSports) March 1, 2024
Rookie Enoch Valdez added 16 points while Semerad and Sean Anthony, who fouled out in the fourth, had 15 apiece for the Road Warriors.
READ: Bolick starts new PBA tour as new NLEX team leader
Arvin Tolentino scored 29 points, including a basket with 7.1 seconds left that tied the count at 98-all and eventually sent the contest to overtime.
Rookie Zavier Lucero finally made his PBA debut after recovering from an ACL injury he sustained while playing for University of the Philippines in the UAAP Season 85 Finals and came up with 13 points, eight rebounds and four blocks.
William Navarro posted 12 points and 13 rebounds for the defeated NorthPort side in his return from a similar injury which occurred in the 2022 Commissioner’s Cup.
PBA Scores:
NLEX 107—Bolick 31, Valdez 16, Anthony 15, Semerad 15, Pascual 9, Ular 6, Nieto 5, Marcelo 4, Miranda 3, Amer 2, Nermal 0.
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NORTHPORT 100—Tolentino 29, Bulanadi 19, Lucero 13, Navarro 12, Munzon 8, Zamar 6, Calma 4, Flores 4, Rosales 2, Chan 2, Paraiso 1, Cuntapay 0, Yu 0.
Quarters: 29-25, 55-50, 74-72, 98-98 (Reg.), 107-100 (OT).
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