NorthPort’s Robert Bolick is happy to see the fans back on the stands even if he was the most jeered player during his team’s 108-82 loss to Barangay Ginebra San Miguel.

The Ginebra faithful made sure that their voices would be heard anytime Bolick would touch the ball which the Batang Pier star took in stride following the match Friday, Dec. 17 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

“Sarap sa feeling,” said Bolick, who wound up with a career-high 32 points which was not enough to send NorthPort’s record down to 0-4 in the PBA Governors’ Cup.

“Sarap sa feeling na lumabas, daming tao. First game namin, Ginebra pa agad. For sure, dami namang tao pag Ginebra. Sarap sa feeling na bumabalik na yung tao.”

The atmosphere was something that was missing since the pandemic started when the PBA was forced to hold games in closed-door venues until this week when the league was given clearance to allow fans on hand for the Araneta return.

“Usually, kada laro ang tahimik. Naririnig mo tinatakbong plays sa kabila kasi sumisigaw diba sa bubble. Pero sarap sa feeling maglaro nang may fans,” said Bolick, adding that he would have obliged for photos with fans as a way to repay them.

Interacting with fans, however, will have to wait as the strict health protocols are still being observed with the pandemic still far from over.

As much as Bolick is elated with what he saw, it was the only good part of the Batang Pier’s evening as they weren’t able to answer the Gin Kings’ fast start and eventually suffered their worst defeat in the early portion of the tournament.

NorthPort was also affected by the absence of import Cameron Forte, who was out for the second straight game due to a knee injury.

“Siyempre talo pa rin e. Yun ang pinakamasama,” he said.