In the PBA Commissioner’s Cup on Sunday night at the Ynares Center, Robert Bolick led NLEX past reigning champion San Miguel, 104-99, with an impressive offensive display in the fourth quarter.

The game’s final tie was broken by the explosive shooting guard’s 20 points in the final period, including a step-back four-pointer that put the Road Warriors on pace for their third victory in four games, 98-94.

In a game when NLEX rallied from a 19-point hole in the third quarter to hand the Beermen their first defeat in two games this conference, Bolick finished with a game-high 39 points and nine assists.

The Beermen jumped out to a 65-46 lead as their frontcourt tandem of import Quincy Miller and June Mar Fajardo took off, giving the impression that they would easily win No. 2.

However, the Road Warriors rallied behind Anthony Semerad, Michael Watkins, and Bolick to cut the lead to 71-75 going into the fourth quarter.

The scoring king from the previous year took over.

Before Semerad’s final three-pointer tied the game, CJ Perez made a three-pointer to put San Miguel ahead 94-91.

Bolick made a dagger from the four-point line after Perez missed, then stole the ball from June Mar Fajardo and helped Watkins make a breakaway two-handed dunk to give NLEX a six-point advantage.

Watkins gave NLEX 17 points, 28 rebounds, and four blocks, but he also made seven turnovers. Semerad concluded with 12 points from four of nine three-point range, and freshman Xyrus Torres had eleven.

San Miguel lost despite Miller’s 21 points and 11 rebounds, while Fajardo contributed 20 points and 19 rebounds.

An hour after the game ended and long after the players and team staff had left the stadium, coach Jorge Gallent and his team of deputies—which included Ato Agustin, Peter Martin, Boycie Zamar, Biboy Ravanes, and Dayong Mendoza—as well as consultant Leo Austria emerged from the dugout in celebration of NLEX’s thrilling victory.

Gee Abanilla, the team manager, and Robert Non, the governor of the SMB team, both left the coaching staff behind earlier.

Later, during a post-game interview, Gallent pleaded with the reporters, warning them to be careful on their way home.

The defending champion, who led NLEX by as much as 65-46 in the third session and looked poised to win for the second time in a row, lost badly.

However, the Beermen fell apart in the last quarter due to a barrage of points from Robert Bolick, the shooting guard for the Road Warriors, who scored 20 of his game-high 39 points in that quarter to assist his side finish the incredible comeback. 

With San Miguel suffering its first conference defeat, NLEX improved their record to 3-1 and evened the score at 1-1.

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.

Quarter scores: 17-21; 40-53; 71-75; 104-99.