As fatherhood beckons, Robert Bolick shifts to higher gear

NLEX Road Warriors’ Robert Bolick in the PBA Philippine Cup. –PBA IMAGES

NLEX guard Robert Bolick has been on a tear in the 2024 PBA Philippine Cup, averaging nearly 30 points in the club’s first three games in the centerpiece tournament.

His numbers indicate a significant increase from the last conference where he only averaged only 16 points in four games back on home soil after briefly plying his trade in Japan.

The casual observer would pin the trend on Bolick making up for the short run he had in the Commissioner’s Cup, but the Road Warriors ace said the reason is much simpler.

SCHEDULE: 2024 PBA Philippine Cup

“I’m just preparing myself, you know,” he told the Inquirer on his way out of Smart Araneta Coliseum where his crew survived hard-fighting Meralco in a 99-96 thriller on Wednesday night.

“I simply wanted to win. I have my first child on the way and I want to be a source of pride not only for the baby but also for my wife and the rest of my family,” he added.

Different inspiration

Bolick delivered 26 points that night, just three points shy of matching his first two outputs in the All-Filipino showcase. He also had eight rebounds to help NLEX rebound from a sorry loss to perennial league doormat Terrafirma and rise to 2-1 (win-loss).

After his exploits, Bolick went straight to his wife Cassandra, kissing her and caressing her baby bump.

READ: PBA: Bolick fuels NLEX win over his former team NorthPort

“We’re expecting [the baby to be born] around May,” Bolick said with a wide smile. “If we can also reach the playoffs, that would be special. I now have a different kind of inspiration that drives me.”Bolick’s heroics that night were most evident in the crunch when the Bolts threatened.

“We’re lucky that we have Bolick,” head coach Frankie Lim said after the game. “Imagine if we didn’t have him.”

Bolick has shown he has what it takes to be a big star in the league, even leading multiple Best Player Conference (BPC) derbies in the past. But with a renewed sense of purpose, he has felt that his standard for excellence has changed a bit.

“I think the sense of urgency [within me] changed. I’ve led [BPC] races but never got to win one since my teams don’t reach the semis,” he said.

Asked when all that can finally change at NLEX, Bolick said he can only hope and to his best.

“A game at a time,” he said, his face bearing the same serious mug he had when playing Meralco a few minutes earlier. “We’ll see.”