PBA: Robert Bolick knows NLEX in for tough battle vs Meralco

Robert Bolick will be leading NLEX Road Warriors against Meralco Bolts in the PBA quarterfinals. –PBA IMAGES

MANILA, Philippines–Robert Bolick believes NLEX will be in for a difficult battle against a motivated Meralco squad in their best-of-three affair in the PBA Philippine Cup quarterfinals.

The Road Warriors snapped a four-game skid after holding off Barangay Ginebra, 76-72, Sunday at Ninoy Aquino Stadium to secure not only a playoff berth but the sixth seed against the third-ranked Bolts.

But Bolick sees a tough customer in Meralco, which the other night denied San Miguel Beer a perfect elimination round slate with a hard-fought win in Batangas City. The Bolts also produced lopsided wins over Ginebra and Magnolia during the elimination phase.

READ: PBA: NLEX slips past Ginebra to clinch quarterfinals spot

“They’re going to be a tough team to beat because they were able to win against the strong teams,” Bolick said in Filipino after going off for 25 points to lead the Road Warriors’ cause.

“It’s going to be a good matchup and we’re excited to face them. For sure, the coaches will be able to put a good gameplan.”

NLEX defeated Meralco, 99-96, during their only eliminations faceoff last March 6 as part of its early surge in the conference of five wins in the first six matches.

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But a string of losses eventually shattered the Road Warriors’ twice-to-beat hopes. They would have been relegated to a playoff for No. 8 with the NorthPort Batang Pier if they came up short against the Gin Kings.

Bolick, however, was glad to see big men Michael Miranda and Dave Marcelo step up on both ends, especially with their defense on Ginebra’s Christian Standhardinger.

“They were the ones who carried us in this game. The bigs really inspired us,” said Bolick.

Meralco and NLEX were among the five teams with identical 6-5, along with TNT, Rain or Shine and Magnolia.

Based on the tiebreaker, the Bolts got the highest quotient followed by Tropang Giga, Elasto Painters and Road Warriors while the Hotshots missed out on a best-of-three and placed seventh, and will need to beat No. 2 Ginebra twice in the quarters.