Bolick completes five-point play as Group Mark forges third All-Star tie

Robert Bolick (proper) offers a memorable ending to what turned out to be an all-star traditional. —PBA IMAGES

BACOLOD CITY—Robert Bolick’s unimaginable five-point play that allowed Group Mark to carry Group Japeth to a 140-all tie in Sunday’s PBA All-Star Sport will little doubt be one of the vital memorable moments of the exhibition traditional.

And whereas Bolick, who shared Most Useful Participant (MVP) honors with Japeth Aguilar, doesn’t contemplate the way of how the outcome got here out as a form of pseudo-victory, he agrees that it’s a stinging takeaway for the opposite aspect because the PBA contingent flies again to Manila.

“They’ll really feel worse coming house,” mentioned Bolick, whose shot off a Calvin Oftana foul with 17.8 seconds left accomplished Group Mark’s escape act after being down early earlier than a packed crowd at College of St. La Salle Coliseum.

Oftana couldn’t redeem himself on the following play, lacking a possible profitable layup earlier than time expired because the third tie within the historical past of the occasion was sealed.

The end result, regardless of some clamors from followers, remained because the league opted towards replicating what transpired within the 2008 version that was additionally held on this metropolis when the one time beyond regulation sport in All-Star historical past was performed.

“It leaves us a little bit of a bitter style in our mouths as a result of we had the lead for the entire sport,” mentioned Group Japeth’s dropping coach Tim Cone. “However the backside line is that that is for the followers. It was a wonderful sport for the followers.”

The sport already regarded misplaced for Bolick and the workforce captained by Mark Barroca, particularly with Group Japeth holding 140-131 lead with lower than a minute to go.

However Group Japeth dedicated three turnovers down the stretch, with Bolick pulling down a shot from the particular four-point line, which measures about 27 toes and was applied for the second straight yr within the All-Star affair.

Bolick even tried one other four-pointer that hit the entrance rim and resulted in a turnover, with possession going to Group Japeth and a win showing to be a mere formality.

Group Mark coach Jorge Gallent, nonetheless, opted to insert gamers recognized to excel in pressuring the ball. The ploy labored as CJ Perez deflected RR Pogoy’s cross from midcourt that led to a steal from Cliff Hodge and Bolick’s unimaginable shot.

“I actually performed a nasty sport,” mentioned Bolick, lamenting on his misses not solely on this sport but in addition final yr in Passi Metropolis, Iloilo, the place he muffed one in all a number of four-point makes an attempt geared toward salvaging a tie.

Bolick was allowed by Aguilar, an MVP winner within the 2019 sport in Calasiao, Pangasinan, to take house the trophy. However the NLEX star felt the award needs to be given to another person. INQ