Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
San Beda’s Robert Bolick usually had a chip on his shoulder when playing against De La Salle.
Seldom-used during his time as a Green Archer, Bolick made his way to the NCAA powerhouse.
And on Sunday, the feisty Red Lion turned that chip into a boulder and used that to demoralize the Green Archers, 75-72, in the Filoil Flying V Premier Cup finals at the tournament’s namesake arena in San Juan.
Bolick, who scored 16 points in the first half alone, had the ball in his hands with less than 30 seconds remaining and the scores tied at 72-72.
The former Green Archer stared at Santi Santillan with title-winning intentions on his mind, and a death glare on his eyes. He then dribbled right, popped back, and hit the game-winning triple with 8.5 seconds left in the game.
“Bolick really wanted to prove himself in the first half and I told him you can’t win it alone,” said Red Lions head coach Boyet Fernandez. “He forced his shots in the first half and we only had four assists in the first half.”
“The second half he shared the ball, but in the end we live and die with Bolick. I devised a play, but at the end of the game, in the last 10 seconds, it should be Bolick who’ll take the last shot.”
And although Bolick had his prayer answered, he wasn’t the only Red Lion to come up in the clutch.
AC Soberano had his moment in the sun when he labeled the scores at 72-72 with a triple from the left wing at the 59.9-second mark of the game.
Still, it was Bolick who saved San Beda and he finished with 24 points, eight rebounds, and six assists while Javee Mocon had 13 points and 13 rebounds.
Ben Mbala led La Salle with 25 points, 14 rebounds, and four blocks.