Bolick on loss to Perpetual: ‘We didn’t come to play’

MANILA, Philippines – San Beda Red Lions top scorer Robert Bolick was clearly unhappy with his team’s performance in their loss to the University of Perpetual Help Altas on Friday, September 30, at the Mall of Asia Arena.

Coming into the Final Four as the top seed in the NCAA, the Red Lions lost to the fourth-seed Altas who raced off to a 21-9 lead after the first quarter and hit the big shots late in the game to seal the victory. 

Perpetual forced a rubber match on Tuesday with a trip to the finals on the line.

“Yes,” answered Bolick when asked if he feels San Beda let the game get away.

“We didn’t play. We didn’t come to play. Our teammates didn’t come to play,” he explained.

According to Bolick, the Red Lions should have performed with better attitude as well.

“We didn’t come to play. It should never happen. You come to a ball game, Final Four, you don’t come to play? I told my teammates, ‘if you don’t want to play, then don’t come to training anymore,’” he said.

Bolick scored all of his 21 points in the first half and also finished with 6 assists plus 4 rebounds. San Beda turned the ball over 24 times, and allowed Gab Dagangon to finish with a game-high 27 points while big man Bright Akhuetie recorded 15 points and 11 boards.

Bolick, who’s in his first year with the Red Lions after transferring from De La Salle University, said that there were signs during San Beda’s practice a day before the match hinting at how they would perform.

“Even our practice yesterday, we were very cocky. I said don’t be cocky with this team, because [they’re] a very dangerous team. Look [at] what happened,” said Bolick, who specified how careless they were with the ball during training.

“I said, ‘you’ve got to play with your strengths. If you think that there’s someone open, pass the ball; don’t force shots.’”

Whatever it takes

Bolick, however, is confident in his team’s ability to bounce back in the do-or-die game. “I’m sure we’ll win Tuesday,” he said.

On what adjustments the Red Lions need to make, Bolick was tight-lipped.

“I think that’s a secret, but we’ll find ways, and for me, in my heart, we’ll win Tuesday. We’ll do whatever [it takes].”

San Beda is aiming to make the league finals for the 11th straight year and looking to reclaim its throne after losing to Letran in last year’s championship round.

“Number one [seed], two, 3, 4, it doesn’t even matter, because any team can beat any team. It just happened now. We just have to stick with our strengths and play to our strengths,” Bolick said. – Rappler.com