NLEX felt Robert Bolick’s absence in clutch time, says Bahio

NLEX Road Warriors’ Robert Bolick during a game vs TNT Tropang 5G in the 2026 PBA Commissioner’s Cup quarterfinals. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines—NLEX forward JB Bahio believes things could have turned out differently had Robert Bolick been on the floor in the closing minutes of their 96-93 loss to TNT in Game 1 of the PBA Commissioner’s Cup quarterfinals.

Following the crucial defeat on Wednesday, Bahio said NLEX missed Bolick’s presence late in the game after the star guard fouled out.

“I’m sure things would be different. Berto’s different. He’s brought us so many times to the finish line with his decision-making,” he told the Inquirer at Ninoy Aquino Stadium on Wednesday.

“We needed to show the next man up, we had to show up but we couldn’t get the win.”

NLEX trailed TNT, 88-84, midway through the fourth quarter when Bolick was called for his sixth foul after fouling Jayson Castro in transition with 4:33 left.

Before fouling out, Bolick had 15 points, four assists and three rebounds.

Without their top playmaker in crunch time, the Road Warriors failed to protect their twice-to-beat advantage as TNT forced a do-or-die game.

“Breaks of the game. The luck just didn’t get to us in the end,” Bahio said.

Bolick, Bahio and the Road Warriors try to close out the series on Saturday at Ninoy Aquino Stadium.