MANILA, Philippines – For the NorthPort Batang Pier, Robert Bolick performed like an imported player, scoring a career-high 44 points on Friday to help his side defeat the Meralco Bolts. 

In the PBA Commissioner’s Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, Bolick scored 22 of the final 29 points for Batang Pier to complete an incredible comeback victory over the Bolts, 101-95, in overtime. 

The former San Beda Red Lions standout used a 17-6 surge in the final five minutes of regulation to force an additional five minutes despite being behind by 11 heading into the payoff quarter.

With 3:13 remaining in the game, he extended his scoring spree in overtime with a 5-0 run, which included a triple, to give NorthPort a 94-89 lead. 

With a three-point attempt, Bong Quinto attempted to keep Meralco in the game, but Arwind Santos instantly answered to maintain a 99-93 lead. 

With Santos’ layup in the final three seconds of play, NorthPort earned their second victory of the year and a 2-1 record. 

Santos and Arvin Tolentino, who worked together for 27 points, assisted Bolick. 

Meanwhile, Johnny O’Bryant, who scored 30 points for the Bolts while Raymond Almazan added 17 points, had his debut ruined by NorthPort.

The Bolts appeared to be in control of the game despite being down by nine after the first 12 minutes when they held Batang Pier scoreless for eight minutes and then went on a huge 19-0 run to establish a 36-26 lead. 

After a layup by one of their import players in the third quarter, Meralco’s lead grew to 20 points, 67-47. 

Arwind Santos’ pull-up jumper at the 4:06 mark gave NorthPort a chance to respond, and they went on an 11-0 run to take the lead, 58-67. 

Prior to Bolick catching fire and destroying Meralco in the following 10 minutes of the game, Allein Maliksi’s three-pointer at the 5:26 mark of the fourth was the final gasp for Meralco. They led 83-72 at that point.

Robert Bolick the PBA Achiever

Robert Lee Espina Bolick Jr., a professional basketball player from the Philippines who plays for the NorthPort Batang Pier of the Philippine Basketball Association, was born on September 13, 1995. (PBA). He competed in collegiate basketball with the National Collegiate Athletic Association’s San Beda Red Lions (Philippines). He is capable of playing both point guard and shooting guard.

The NorthPort Batang Pier of the Philippine Basketball Association selected Bolick third overall in the 2018 PBA draft. Just a few days after being selected by the Batang Pier as the third overall choice in the 2018 PBA Rookie Draft, Bolick signed a two-year maximum deal with NorthPort. 

He had nine points in the third quarter of his PBA debut before adding the finishing touches in the fourth quarter, which included a difficult step-back jumper from the deep right corner in front of his team’s bench.

He established a team record for the most points scored by a rookie in a debut with a game-high 26 points in his debut on 10-of-12 field goal shooting, along with three rebounds and three assists in just under 36 minutes of action. 

He was chosen as the Player of the Week and the undisputed Rookie of the Month for June 2019 after teammates Stanley Pringle and Sean Anthony missed games due to injuries. 

Bolick’s contract expired on January 31, 2022, and because he didn’t agree to a new deal with NorthPort, he was therefore restricted to free agency. On February 11, he finally agreed to a new deal with NorthPort.

Bolick’s ascent was furthered when the Cignal HD-San Beda Hawkeyes, who defeated Racal Ceramica in three games to win the 2017 PBA D-League Aspirant’s Cup Championship, won the PBA D-League Aspirant’s Cup MVP award.