Allein Maliksi helped Meralco move a win away from a semifinal berth in the PBA Season 48 Philippine Cup on Friday, May 10.
Meralco coach Luigi Trillo did not run out of good things to say about NLEX gunner Robert Bolick even after the Bolts ran away with a 97-93 win over the Road Warriors in their PBA Season 48 Philippine Cup quarterfinal series opener on Friday, May 10.
Bolick battered the Bolts on all fronts on his way to 48 points, including 28 in the first two quarters of action.
“You have to give it to Robert. He is so good at picking angles, at picking shots. It really takes five guys playing defense on him. That’s Robert Bolick for you,” Trillo said after his wards went off to a flying start in the best-of-three encounter at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
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Meralco stalwart Allein Maliksi, who had to guard Bolick on several occasions, agreed.
“I think Robert, when he’s hot, hot talaga. He’s really a talented guy. Imagine, sinong nakaka-score ng ganyan? Even in the elimination round, naka-46 na yata siya,” said Maliksi.
[WATCH: PBA Player of the Game Highlights: Robert Bolick strikes with career-high 46 points as NLEX crushes Converge]
“When you’re facing Robert, you really have to be on your toes and be sharp on defense.”
Maliksi, though, had the last laugh after sinking four of the last six free throws that gave the Bolts the upperhand in the best-of-three series. He finished with a team-best 22 points.
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Meralco is far from satisfied, though.
“As a coaching staff, as a team, we’re not pleased with the play we played him. For Game 2, you know, it’s going be harder when their backs are against the wall,” Trillo said.
“We’re capable of closing it out, but we really respect Robert Bolick, and we have a lot of things to fix.”
The Bolts aim to finish off the Road Warriors and secure their seat in the semifinals when they clash anew on Sunday, May 12.