ANTIPOLO, December 9 ------ Robert Bolick put on a dazzling offensive show in the fourth quarter to rally NLEX past defending champion San Miguel, 104-99, in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup at the Ynares Center. The explosive shooting guard knocked in 20 points in the final period including a step-back four-point shot that shattered the game’s final deadlock and put the Road Warriors right on track to their third win in four games, 98-94. "What can I do without you," coach Jong Uichico told his star player after the game.
Bolick finished with a game-high 39 points and nine assists in a game where NLEX came roaring back from the depths of 19-point third-quarter deficit to deal the Beermen their first loss in two games this conference. For a while it appeared the Beermen were set to cruise to win No. 2 after they raced to a 65-46 lead as the frontcourt duo of import Quincy Miller and June Mar Fajardo caught fire. But the Road Warriors clawed their way back behind Bolick, Michael Watkins, and Anthony Semerad to bring down the deficit to 71-75 entering the fourth.
Last year’s scoring king took over from there. CJ Perez buried a three-point shot to put San Miguel in front, 94-91, before Semerad tied the game for the last time with his own three. After a miss by Perez, Bolick knocked in the dagger from the four-point line, and then stole the ball from June Mar Fajardo and assisted on a breakaway two-handed dunk by Watkins that made it a six-point NLEX lead. Watkins added 17 points, 28 rebounds, and four block shots for NLEX though, he committed a total of seven turnovers, Semerad finished 4-of-9 from three-point distance for 12 points, and rookie Xyrus Torres had 11. Miller accounted for 21 points and 11 rebounds in a losing cause for San Miguel, which also got 20 points and 19 rebounds from Fajardo.
The scores:
NLEX (104) -- Bolick 39, Watkins 17, Semerad 12, Torres 11, Valdez 10, Rodger 8, Alas 4, Herndon 3, Marcelo 0, Bahio 0.
San Miguel (99) -- Miller 21, Fajardo 20, Perez 14, Tiongson 11, Tautuaa 1, Trollano 10, Lassiter 6, Brondial 2, Cahilig 2, Rosales 2, Cruz 0, Ross 0, Enciso 0.
Quarterscores: 17-21; 40-53; 71-75; 104-99.
Source: spin.ph
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