Photo by Tristan Tamayo/ INQUIRER.net
Facing what he regards as the toughest team he has ever faced in his career in the NCAA Season 93 Finals, Robert Bolick could only do one thing to bring out the best in him: scream.
“I’m already tired. All I could do is shout because I was trying to find a motivation. I know we can’t let this game go,” he said on Friday.
Luckily, his screams were enough to give not only himself but his San Beda teammates the needed lift as the Red Lions scored the 94-87 Game 1 victory over Lyceum on Friday.
Bolick seemed to have went on auto-pilot in the final minute and a half as he scored nine of San Beda’s last 11 points, enough to allow the Red Lions to prove that they could topple the erstwhile-undefeated top seed.
“I just had to find motivation to play. That’s how I am. Whenever I shoot, I shout because I want to feel the crowd,” said the 6-foot-1 guard, who finished the game with 24 points, four rebounds, and two assists.
It took San Beda three tries to beat Lyceum and Bolick drew motivation from those first two meetings heading into their finals duel.
“I let the team down in our games against Lyceum. I had a lot of miscues, free throws missed, and a lot of turnovers. So I just told myself I have to find ways to stay motivated. Even though I was already tired, I was just shouting and I gave everything I had for the team,” he said.
The Red Lions are now a win away from a successful title defense and Bolick knows that the job still isn’t over, expecting a tougher fight from Lyceum once Game 2 rolls on next Thursday.
“LPU is really a great defensive team. When you turn around, they’re always there. They’re really a tough team and they bring out the best in us. I’m pretty sure that in Game 2, they’ll be better, so we should be more composed. We have to double our effort,” he said.