THE NCAA championship is the only trophy that matters to San Beda’s Robert Bolick.
Nonetheless, Bolick finally got his due recognition for his leading role in the Red Lions’ title run when he was Player of the Year in the 2018 Chooks-to-Go Collegiate Basketball Awards yesterday (Thursday) at The Bayleaf Hotel in Intramuros.
The 6-foot-1 guard was the undisputed leader of a San Beda side that won its league-leading 21st title in NCAA Season 93. However, Bolick was left out of any individual hardware after being disqualified for the Mythical Team due to a controversial ejection in an elimination round game and after being edged out by teammate Donald Tankoua for Finals MVP.
Bolick personally received the award last night during the awards ceremony sponsored by Chooks-to-Go and supported by The Bayleaf Intramuros and Cherrylume.
While the 21-year-old is never one to look for personal glory, the fact remains that he was the catalyst for the Mendiola-based squad in two close contests in the Finals against Lyceum and Season MVP CJ Perez.
Bolick came through for his team when it mattered most, dropping seven of his 24 points in the last two minutes of Game 1 and then scoring seven of his 22 markers with under five minutes remaining in Game 2.
The pride of Ormoc, Leyte is the first Red Lion and first NCAA standout to be hailed as Player of the Year. He follows La Salle’s Jeron Teng and Ben Mbala, Ateneo’s Kiefer Ravena, and FEU’s Mac Belo as winners of the award.
Joining Bolick in this year’s Mythical Team were Green Archer Mbala, Pirate Perez, and Blue Eagles Matt Nieto and Thirdy Ravena.
Meanwhile, San Beda coach Boyet Fernandez and Ateneo mentor Tab Baldwin were also feted as Coaches of the Year last Thursday night.
Fernandez guided the Red Lions to their 10th title in the last 12 years after emphatic wins in the NCAA Finals against Lyceum, a team which had swept the eliminations.
The Finals of the UAAP was also a showcase for the coaching prowess of Baldwin who got the most out of all the Blue Eagles to thwart archrival La Salle for their first championship since 2012.
Special awards were also given to women’s basketball legend Afril Bernardino of National U, UE scoring machine Alvin Pasaol, and the Lyceum Pirates, who completed their transformation from league cellar-dweller to legitimate contender.
