Robert Bolick showed early signs of adapting as the NLEX Road Warriors kicked off their PBA Season 49 Philippine Cup with a tough loss.
Despite rallying from a 15-point deficit against the San Miguel Beermen, Bolick and the squad under coach Jong Uichico couldn’t complete the comeback and ended up with a 98-89 defeat to one of the league’s top contenders.
Bolick, a San Beda University alum, struggled offensively with just 12 points on 2-of-11 shooting, which did little to boost NLEX’s efforts. His performance also added fuel to circulating rumors that he’s growing uneasy under Uichico’s system.
However, the 6-foot-1 guard quickly refuted any talk of discord between him and his coach.
“I’m surprised by what’s coming out because I’ve been busy with my kid,” Bolick told a small group of reporters at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium. “Dads will understand — I barely even touch my phone. I don’t really know what’s going on out there. It’s just me and my wife taking care of our baby.”
“There’s no truth to that,” he added. “I understand journalists have to write columns, but from our side, there’s nothing going on. I’ve always had a good relationship with my coaches. We’re just focused on adapting to the new system.”
Contrary to the rumors, Bolick said he’s actually excited about the changes Uichico is introducing in the team’s All-Filipino campaign.
“We’re still adjusting, but our ball movement is looking good,” he said. “It’s only the first game, but you can already see the progress in how we’re moving the ball.”
“We stuck to coach’s system even when we were down. That’s what matters. We didn’t abandon it,” Bolick explained. “Coach emphasized player and ball movement during the break, and that’s what we’re working on.”
According to Bolick, everyone — including Uichico — remains optimistic.
“These are the kinds of losses that can actually help a team. We didn’t stray from what coach wanted. We just need to keep improving.”
Despite a rough shooting night, Bolick still contributed with eight assists, three steals, three rebounds, and only one turnover — a performance he sees as a step in the right direction toward his personal goal of uplifting his teammates.
“My goal this conference is to instill confidence in my teammates and show them they can step up too,” he said. “That’s how basketball is played now, so we all have to adjust