ROBERT Bolick opens the lanes for NLEX.
Robert Bolick of NLEX and Arvin Tolentino of NorthPort can rest easy now: Junemar Fajardo is out of the picture.
The two have been sharing the lead in the statistical race since last year, but since San Miguel has bowed out, Bolick and Tolentino now has clearer path to the Best Player of the Conference award.
Fajardo already had 11 BPC accolades while Bolick and Tolentino are both looking at winning their first.
They also get to steer their respective teams deeper into the conference that could go well with such an individual recognition.
By the time the dust settled on Wednesday night, San Miguel’s playoff hopes were officially dashed, as they bid farewell to any slim chance of advancing after the NLEX Road Warriors cruised past guest team Eastern, 94-76.
The Beermen, sitting at a disappointing 5-7, were desperately hoping for losses from both NLEX and Magnolia Hotshots in their final elimination game to keep their quarterfinals hopes alive.
But with NLEX securing their third straight win, their playoff push is still very much alive, now tied at .500 (6-6).
As for Eastern, the loss marked their second straight setback, leaving them with a 7-5 finish, and ultimately costing them a twice-to-beat advantage in the playoffs.
Meanwhile, Barangay Ginebra stood firm, surviving a late rally from an import-less Meralco squad to win 91-87 and finish with an 8-4 record, advancing directly to the quarterfinals.
The Bolts, playing without Akil Mitchell (back spasms), slipped to 7-4 but still have one more game against Magnolia to play.
Regardless of Meralco’s final matchup with Magnolia, both Ginebra and Meralco are locked in for a best-of-three quarterfinals series.
The Batang Pier are making waves this season. They marked the first time they finished at No. 1 in all their time in the PBA, matching their best-ever win total from the 2019 Commissioner’s Cup.
With a league-best 9-3 record, they’ve clinched a twice-to-beat advantage heading into the quarterfinals, a historic achievement for the franchise.