PBA: Robert Bolick takes big lead in Best Player race

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

MANILA, Philippines–NLEX’s Robert Bolick’s string of big performances has allowed him to set the pace in the Best Player of the Conference derby halfway into the eliminations of the PBA Philippine Cup.

Bolick racked up 49.2 Statistical Points for a huge lead over NorthPort’s Arvin Tolentino, Terrafirma rookie Stephen Holt, San Miguel Beer’s June Mar Fajardo and Rain or Shine’s Santi Santillan.

Tolentino is second with 43.6 SPs followed by Holt with 40.2, Fajardo at 37.0 and Santillan posting 35.9.

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The Road Warriors are currently second in the team standings after winning five of six games, thanks in large part to Bolick, who leads the all-Filipino tournament in scoring with 29.5 points and assists at 7.2 per contest.

He’s also averaging 5.8 rebounds in six matches to continue his impressive return after a short-lived tenure in Japan with B.League second division side Fukushima Firebonds.

Sustaining his numbers and putting NLEX in a deep playoff run will help Bolick’s chances of getting the BPC plum.

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Bolick has led numerous in the Statistical Points category in past conferences while with NorthPort, but was dislodged from contention after early exits suffered by his previous PBA ballclub.

Behind Bolick are two players who have put their teams in good position to make the quarterfinals.
Tolentino and NorthPort carry a 4-2 record while Holt is one of the reasons why Terrafirma produced a 4-4 slate and closer to the franchise’s second playoff appearance.