Ni Marivic Awitan

HABANG umuusok sa ngitngit ang team officials ng San Beda College, mabilis namang humupa ang emosyon ni Red Lions top guard Robert Bolick sa nangyaring komosyon sa endgame ng laban nila ng St. Benilde nitong Martes na naging sanhi ng kanyang ‘ejection’ sa NCAA Season 93 basketball tournament.

“I know him and that’s the way he plays. He’s Visayan and that’s how we play. He took me down, but I really don’t care. It’s part of the game. They’re frustrated because we’re up, but it happens to all,” pahayag ni Bolick, patungkol sa insidente nang kalawitin siya sa leeg at itumba ni Blazers stringer Carlo Young.

“They want to win so bad, we want to win so bad. But they say I had a closed fist? Just watch the video. I know I did not do that. They think I did that so I’ll accept whatever consequences are,” aniya.

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Iginiit ng leading MVP contender na wala siyang makitang dahilan para siya mapatalsik sa laro kung pagbabasehan ang naging reaksiyon niya sa ibinigay na ‘hard foul’ ni Young.

“You be the judge. You’re here every game and you can see it. Maybe on my side, when I feel that I am wrong, I know that I’m wrong. But I know I didn’t do anything. I just want to play the game that I love, growing up because this is my sport,” pahayag ni Bolick.

“Whatever the referees or the commissioner does, if they’re mad at me, they’re critical of the team, it’s already their problem. That’s their job, and if they think they’ve done their job, then they’ve done their job. My job is to play for my team and bring the spirit, heart, love for the game and I hope that whatever the consequences they want to give me, I’ll accept it with a full heart. They think I did something? I was the one who got hurt and I was even thrown out.”

Dahil sa nangyaring ejection, awtomatikong napatawan siya ng one-game suspension at hindi na siya puwedeng magkaroon ng anumang individual awards..

“I can only say one thing: I really don’t care if they hate me, and that’s fine with me. My teammates are telling me that I can still win the MVP, but I told them I’m not playing to be the MVP. I don’t want to play to be the MVP this season. I couldn’t care less. I’m not playing for MVP stats. I’m just playing to win. Give the MVP to anyone else,” ani Bolick

“One thing that they’ll never take away is the win, the love of the game that I bring to my teammates, coaches, and the staff. I really don’t care if they hate San Beda or whatever. That’s fine. But they’ll never take the will for me to win another championship this year and to give back to San Beda,” aniya.