San Beda hopes to rely anew on the red-hot shooting of Robert Bolick as it takes on Jose Rizal University today in the last playdate of the first round of the 94th NCAA basketball tournament at the Filoil Flying V Centre in San Juan City.
Bolick unleashed a career-high 50-point effort in a 98-79 rout of the Arellano University Chiefs Tuesday that not only propelled the Lions to their seventh win in eight games but also set a league record as the second highest individual scoring in a game next only to the late Lim Eng Beng’s all-time best 55 points he set in 1974.
“Hopefully he can sustain his hot shooting,” said San Beda coach Boyet Fernandez of Bolick.
But it’s possible the Bombers, who own a 2-6 (win-loss) slate, are planning to throw the defensive gauntlet on Bolick in their 4 p.m. duel.
“I expect that to happen. I just have to be prepared and find ways to hit shots or just help my team get a win,” said Bolick.
In the only other seniors’ game, Perpetual Help guns to reclaim its place inside the magic four as it tackles AU at 2 p.m.
The Altas lost to the St. Benilde Blazers, 77-84, that sent the former from solo third to fifth with a 5-3 slate.
Perpetual Help will play an AU squad (3-5) out to close out the round with a win.
Bolick had a career afternoon when he scored 50 points against Arellano last Friday.
San Beda upped its record to 7-1, while Arellano dropped to 3-5.
After scoring just 13 in the first half, where the Red Lions held a slim 42-40 lead, Bolick dropped 18 in the third quarter and 19 in the fourth to lead the Red Lions to the easy win.
Bolick drilled five three-pointers and shot 18 of 25 from the floor or 72 percent.