Robert Bolick regained his deadly form, firing 33 points to steer NorthPort past NLEX, 107-94, and arrest its three-game slide in the 2022 PBA Commissioner’s Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Wednesday, Nov. 9.
With his scoring struggles becoming a huge factor in the Batang Pier’s sudden decline, Bolick went back to his old explosive ways, dropping 19 of his output in the second half where NorthPort pulled away and never looked back to notch its fourth win through nine games.
Bolick also added 12 rebounds and seven assists while providing support was Will Navarro who finished with an all-around game of 17 points, 13 rebounds and seven assists. Import Prince Ibeh was also solid all-game long, contributing 22 points, 17 rebounds and six blocks.
The Batang Pier went on a searing 24-6 run bridging the third and final quarter that all but broke the backs of the Road Warrior to establish the biggest lead of the contest at 24, 92-68, early in the final frame.
Only up by eight, 70-68 in the final two minutes of the third quarter, back-to-back baskets from Navarro and Roi Sumang triggered the massive run for NorthPort. Kris Rosales and import Earl Clark tried to keep NLEx within striking distance with two triples but the Batang Pier retaliated with 12 unanswered points to tear the game apart.
Clark put up 29 points, 15 rebounds and six assists while Kevin Alas added 18 in another losing effort that dropped NLEX to its third straight defeat for a 3-5 record in the standings.