Robert Bolick says CJ Perez should have been PBA All-Star Game MVP

Robert Bolick and Japeth Aguilar share the PBA All-Star Game MVP award in Bacolod.–PBA IMAGES

BACOLOD CITY—As grateful as he was with sharing the honor as the Most Valuable Player in Sunday’s PBA All-Star Game, Robert Bolick felt that the award should be given to someone else.

“For me, it should be CJ [Perez],” Bolick said after his five-point play enabled Team Mark to sneak a 140-all tie over Team Japeth at University of St. La Salle Coliseum here.

It’s no surprise that Bolick was chosen to split the award alongside Japeth Aguilar, especially after lifting Team Mark from the brink of defeat with less than a minute left and down nine.

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But the NLEX star said that Perez’s numbers weighed heavily as well as the San Miguel Beer standout finished with 39 points, on top of three rebounds, five assists and two steals.

“CJ scored a lot of points. I think he already had 32 points or something,” he said. “Maybe I’m just blessed to be given the award.”

Statistically, Bolick struggled as he made just 3-of-15 shots and muffed his first eight attempts from the special four-point line installed for the second straight All-Star Game.

He made his last two shots, including the memorable conversion off a Calvin Oftana foul with 17 seconds left.

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Bolick was also thankful to Aguilar for letting him take home the trophy, already among the few milestones of his PBA career.

Aguilar posted 21 points, including a number of three-point dunks off alley-oops from Team Japeth teammate Terrence Romeo.

“I asked him if he could hand over the trophy to me since he already has a lot of trophies at home,” Bolick said in jest.