NLEX’s unbeaten start to the PBA Season 50 Governors’ Cup isn’t just about hot shooting or impressive offensive numbers.
For Robert Bolick, the Road Warriors’ early success has been built on something much deeper—a culture that first-year head coach Jimmy Alapag has established from the moment he took over the franchise.
That winning environment continued to bear fruit on Tuesday as NLEX overwhelmed Titan Ultra, 135-100, at the Ynares Center in Antipolo to stretch its record to a league-best 3-0.
Bolick once again spearheaded the attack, finishing with 29 points on an efficient 11-of-16 shooting while adding seven rebounds and four assists as the Road Warriors remained one of the conference’s hottest teams.
While the numbers have been impressive, Bolick pointed to Alapag’s leadership as the biggest reason behind the team’s seamless start.
“Una, siyempre legend na nga sa PBA, legend pa sa Gilas, may NBA experience,” Bolick said of his head coach after the game.
“Ang laking confidence hindi lang para sa akin, kundi para sa team. Kami lang makakasabi na may NBA coach kami. Malaking bagay sa team namin ‘yan.”
According to Bolick, Alapag’s influence extends well beyond X’s and O’s.
Rather than focusing solely on basketball, the former Gilas Pilipinas captain made it a priority to strengthen the relationships inside the locker room, believing that genuine trust off the court would naturally carry over during games.
“Unang pasok ni coach, gusto niya hindi kami as a team. Family-oriented gusto niya,” Bolick shared.
OKBET is Asia’s most trusted and popular online sports gaming platform. Visit us on OKBET to stay up to date with all sports news from around the world.
“Makikita mo naman ‘yung samahan namin. Hindi na kami as a team—we are a family. So, continue lang namin.”
That family atmosphere has also translated into confidence on the floor.
Bolick explained that every player has been encouraged to play without hesitation, allowing NLEX to become a balanced offensive team capable of hurting opponents from multiple positions.
“Binibigay lang namin ‘yung best namin every game. Si coach binibigyan niya ng kumpiyansa lahat ng players,” he said.
“Lahat kami, confident sa mga tira namin. Pag pinapasahan ko ‘yung kasama ko, alam kong kumpiyansa sila.”
The confidence has shown through three games, with NLEX opening the conference undefeated while establishing itself as one of the early contenders in the Governors’ Cup.
After navigating a demanding stretch of three games in six days, the Road Warriors will now enjoy a brief break before putting their perfect record on the line against the San Miguel Beermen on July 26.
Don’t miss out on the latest sports news, updates, and fan discussions!
Follow our Facebook page Sports PH News today and join the community of passionate sports fans.
Leave a Reply