MANILA, Philippines – Robert Bolick has had enough of narrow losses.

Bolick made sure NorthPort will not be on the receiving end of another heartbreaker as he shone in a 101-95 win over Meralco in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup on Friday, September 30, with a 44-point masterpiece.

Committed to bounce back after a 105-104 loss to Bay Area, Bolick scattered 22 points in the fourth and overtime periods as the Batang Pier completed their comeback from a 20-point hole.

“We’re tired of losing close games,” said Bolick in Filipino as he reset his career-high after seeing his previous league-best of 33 points go for naught against the Dragons, no thanks to Myles Powell hitting the game-winner.

“Last game really hurt. We could have been 3-0 by now.”

Hope seemed lost for NorthPort as it trailed by double digits with less than six minutes left in regulation.

But the pride of Ormoc City refused to give up the fight.

All of the 22 points Bolick scored in the fourth and extra quarters came in successive fashion as he almost singlehandedly swung a 72-83 deficit to a 94-89 lead with 1:30 minutes remaining in overtime.

Bolick also had 7 assists and 6 rebounds to embellish his scoring outburst, which according to PBA chief statistician Fidel Mangonon is the highest by a local since Roger Pogoy fired 45 points in the 2020 Philippine Cup.

“We just fought,” Bolick said. “It feels good because we came out on top this time.”

Even Batang Pier head coach Pido Jarencio feels his team has turned a page as they eye a quarterfinal berth after missing the playoffs in the last three conferences.

“We’ve lost a lot of close games,” said Jarencio. “We’re getting bashed because of that. ‘Why are you like that? Why do you choke?’ I guess this is a testament that we’ve overcome that.”

“This team is steady. This team will fight until the endgame.”

NorthPort looks to improve to 3-1 when it faces Philippine Cup finalist TNT on October 8 at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig. – Rappler.com