MANILA, Philippines – Robert Bolick is making his case for Rookie of the Year by helping keep NorthPort unbeaten in the 2019 PBA Commissioner’s Cup, but the award does not seem to be one of his concerns.

Fact is, Bolick vouches for San Beda teammate and fellow rookie Javee Mocon to take home the annual honors. 

“[K]ahit sa college, ayoko talaga ng mga individual awards kasi ano ito eh, team sport. Pero kung gusto niyo ako tanungin kung sino Rookie of the Year, gusto ko si Mocon, siyempre teammate ko ‘yun eh,” Bolick said. 

(Even when I was in college, I didn’t like individual awards because basketball is a team sport. But if you’re asking me who the Rookie of the Year is, I want it to be Mocon because he was my teammate.) 

“Alam ko kung paano siya magtrabaho. Pero siyempre, lalaki ulo noon pag narinig ako,” he added with a grin. 

(I know how he works hard. But of course, he will become arrogant once he hears me say this.) 

His lack of enthusiasm to win the coveted plum, though, has not prevented Bolick from providing massive contribution for the Batang Pier, who have won all of their first 3 games this conference.

Bolick, the third overall pick in the 2018 Rookie Draft, is the team’s top scorer with an average of 19.3 points on top of 4.3 rebounds, and 2.7 assists despite coming off the bench in all matches. 

If it isn’t awards, what motivates Bolick?

“Napakasuwerte ko sa mga teammates ko kasi araw-araw nagtatrabaho kami. Lalo na ‘pag may Stanley Pringle ka, araw araw kang may competition, araw araw may kaharap kang mas magaling sa ‘yo na gusto mong tapatan din.” 

(I’m lucky with my teammates because we work hard every day. Especially when you have a Stanley Pringle on your team, you have someone who is better than you that you want to be on the same level with.) 

“Masuwerte ako kasi first year ko pa man din, nandiyan kaagad ako sa kaniya,” Bolick said.  

(I’m lucky because in just my first year in the league, I’m already playing with him.) 

And even in Pringle’s first game back, Bolick still waxed hot for 21 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 assists in a 110-86 romp of TNT on Wednesday, May 29. 

He formed a formidable tandem with Pringle, who barely looked like someone who missed time after finishing with 22 points, 3 assists, and 2 rebounds. 

“Nakita mo, kakabalik pa lang sa injury masakit pa rin, parang wala eh. ‘Yun ‘yung nakikita ko araw araw, ina-adapt ko sa game,” Bolick said of Pringle, who had surgery to remove bone spurs on his foot.

(All of you saw, he came off an injury and played through pain but he still played well. I see him play that well every day, and I want to adapt that to my game.) 

NorthPort guns for its fourth straight win against defending champion Barangay Ginebra at the Mall of Asia Arena on Saturday, June 1. – Rappler.com