Ex-La Salle benchwarmer roars mightily

San Beda’s Robert Bolick. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

A former benchwarmer for La Salle has roared mightily for the Red Lions of San Beda in their quest for a ninth men’s basketball title in the last 11 seasons of the NCAA.

Robert Bollick, who was in the SBC reserve list while going through the one-year residency requirement when the Letran Knights dethroned the Lions last year,  again underscored his worth by helping San Beda roll back the Arellano University Chiefs, 88-85, at the start of their best-of-three series for the championship.

The 21-year-old, 6-foot-1 guard from Ormoc delivered a double-double performance of 24 points and 10 rebounds while keeping Arellano star Jio Jalalon at bay in the closing seconds.

It was the fourth straight win by San Beda over Arellano this season, the last one coming in their playoff for the No. 1 slot in the Final Round.

The Lions blew a 15-point lead twice against the Chiefs in the Finals and trailed 85-84 when Bollick took over.  The game hero first struck on a fastbreak then converted two free throws with 3.7 seconds left after forcing Jalalon to pass off to a teammate who missed an open shot.

If the Lions clinch the title tomorrow, it won’t be a first championship for Bollick, who hardly left the bench as a rookie when La Salle won its last crown in the rival UAAP league in 2013. After another forgettable year, he left the Archers and was immediately sought by San Beda coach Jamike Jarin, who proved a genius in finding a jewel from the bench.

* * *

Barangay Ginebra coach Tim Cone said Allen Durham will be a “huge presence inside and out” for Meralco in the PBA Governors’ Cup championship playoffs.

Durham, named Best Import of the Conference last night, more than exceeded Cone’s expectation when he came up with 46 points to power the Bolts to a 114-109 overtime victory at the start of the best-of-seven series last Friday.