Robert Bolick

Bolick started his collegiate career in the UAAP playing for the De La Salle Green Archers in 2013. During the off-season prior, the Green Archers continued its recruiting binge for the next UAAP season by obtaining the commitment of another blue-chip high school prospect in the likeness of Robert Bolick. Head coach Gee Abanilla confirmed he had already expressed his intention to suit up for the Green Archers, following in the footsteps of Bacolod sensation Kib Montalbo.[2]

Prior to leaving the Green Archers in 2015, Bolick was a part of the La Salle squad that won the Season 76 UAAP championship, but his playing time dropped in Season 77, as he averaged 9.1 minutes per game, averaging 1.8 points per contest. He had several options after deciding to leave the Green Archers but eventually opted to move to the reigning NCAA champions San Beda Red Lions. Bolick practiced with University of the Philippines and Ateneo de Manila University, and said he felt welcomed in both squads. But in the end, he chose San Beda University (then San Beda College) because he could not pass up the opportunity to play for head coach Jamike Jarin.[3] Bolick underwent a one-year residency period and was eligible to play for San Beda in 2016, the year after former star point guard Baser Amer graduated.

Bolick finally joined the Red Lions' lineup in 2016. He emerged as the unlikely face of the multi-titled San Beda team, beginning in the playoffs last season when he took over in the semifinals against University of Perpetual Help, before standing toe to toe with the prolific Jiovani Jalalon and Arellano in the finals. He helped the Red Lions gain their first title since 2014, and their sixth championship in seven years, earning himself the nickname "Beastmode Bolick". He was named the collegiate Impact Player of the Year at the 2017 Collegiate Basketball Awards.[4]

He started out his second season in San Beda averaging 13.7 points per outing before their game against the College of St. Benilde Blazers in which he, along with two other players were disqualified after a scuffle. The disqualification was especially costly for Bolick, who was in the running for MVP and Mythical Team honors. As per NCAA rules, a player who is ejected from a game is automatically disqualified from individual awards. All three players were also automatically suspended for their next games. In an interview with ABS-CBN, head coach Boyet Fernandez stated, "Bakit naman ito-throw out mo 'yung tao? Diyos ko naman. The guy was running for MVP. He destroyed the future of that guy."[5] He exited the game with 14 points, 11 assists, and seven rebounds.

Having both their two losses in the elimination round coming from the Lyceum Pirates, who just came off their historic 18-0 elimination sweep, the odds were against them in the finals. However, Bolick was the difference maker for San Beda by heavily contributing to their finals sweep. In their first game, he finished with 18 points, 7 in the fourth-quarter fightback where his passing also keyed two critical baskets that led to the Red Lions' hot finish. After drilling the 3-pointer that gave San Beda an 89-82 lead with 50 seconds remaining, adrenaline took over Bolick, who celebrated the shot with the so-called "reverse raise-the-roof" gesture popularized by LeBron James. He was similarly stoked late in Game 1, when he kept making plays and no defender was able to contain him.[6] In game 2, he had 24 points, 11 of which came in the fourth quarter. He finished the job started by Donald Tankoua, who kept San Beda in the game for the first three periods and had 27 points and 20 boards, bagging the Red Lions their 21st title and their 3rd back-to-back championship in 12 years.[7]