MANILA – Robert Bolick hardly showed any rookie jitters as he powers NorthPort Batang Pier to a lopsided 117-91 win over Blackwater Elite in the 2019 Honda PBA Philippine Cup last night at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Bolick, the No. 3 overall pick during the recent PBA Rookie Draft, had a game long brilliance to finish with 26 points, three points short of the record for most points by a debuting player tallied by Solomon Mercado with Rain or Shine Elasto Painters in 2008.
Ilonggo Juan Paolo Taha added 21 markers, while Sean Anthony and Stanley Pringle contributed 19 and 16 points, respectively, for the Batang Pier, which tied Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Kings on top with 1-0 slate.
“Nag-compliment si Bolick sa team. Made na made na ‘yung bata,” said Batang Pier head coach Alfredo Jarencio. “But it was all about team effort naman. Lahat naman did their share.”
Bolick showed his scoring prowess early on with 10 early points to surge the Batang Pier to a 15-10 start.
The Elite countered with a run to build a 38-26 lead but Anthony and Pringle carried the load for the Batang Pier to take a 55-48 halftime advantage.
The Batang Pier continued to widen the lead in the second half with Bolick anchoring the offense along with Pringle, Anthony and Taha to build its largest lead of the game at 29 points.
Meanwhile, Calvin Abueva scored on a game-winning put back as Phoenix Pulse Fuel Masters escaped with a 93-92 overtime win over Meralco Bolts despite losing a lead as high as 18 points.
Trailing 91-92 after a three-pointer by Bolts’ Chris Newsome, Abueva was at the right place at the right time as he converted a putback from a missed shot by Justin Chua to surge the Fuel Masters ahead at 93-92 with 4.1 seconds in the game.
Abueva finished the match with nine points to go along with 13 rebounds, while Bacolodnon center Chua led the way with 24 markers and six boards for the Fuel Masters./PN
