PBA: Robert Bolick dagger four-pointer seals NLEX escape vs Terrafirma

Robert Bolick sank the biggest basket of the night to lead NLEX to a 95-85 win over a no-quit Terrafirma squad in the PBA Season 50 Commissioner's Cup on Saturday at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.

The veteran guard buried a clutch four-point shot over the tight defense of Maverick Ahanmisi just before the shot clock expired, giving the Road Warriors a 95–85 lead with 53.8 seconds left in the fourth quarter.

Game officials reviewed whether the basket beat the shot clock, but it appeared to count as NLEX escaped a furious Terrafirma rally that cut an 18-point deficit down to just four, 89-85, with 1:47 remaining.

Bolick carried the scoring load in the absence of the injured Kevin Alas, finishing with 20 points, including 13 in the third quarter as he sparked a 34–9 run that wiped out an early 15-point deficit for NLEX.

He also grabbed seven rebounds, six assists, and three steals while LJ Gonzales and JB Bahio both churned out 16 marker. Import Cady Lalanne poured in 15 points and 12 rebounds while Anthony Semerad chipped in 14 markers. 

"When you're playing teams like Terrafirma, their effort is a 100 percent every single game," NLEX head coach Jong Uichico said. 

"They don't care where they stand, basta pagpasok ng laro, they're goal is to win and do their very best. That's why they can't take these teams likely."

Jerrick Ahanmisi knocked down back-to-back baskets that led to a 42-47 lead for Terrafirma late in the second period, but the Road Warriors flipped the switch in the second half with Bolick igniting a 19-3 run to open the third frame and take a 55-50 lead. 

NLEX even clinched a 78-60 lead in the fourth, but the brothers act of Maverick and Jerrick breathed life back into Terrafirma after they traded a triple each to pull within 10, 82-72. 

The older Ahanmisi then completed a three-point play on a foul from Semerad, but a pair of free throws from Lalanne and the booming four-pointer from Bolick completed the comeback win for NLEX. 

Maverick posted 22 points, eight rebounds, and six assists in the loss while his brother chipped in 13 markers.

—Bea Micaller/JMB, GMA News