NLEX may have fallen short of advancing to the semifinals after getting swept by Meralco in their best-of-three quarterfinals but main man Robert Bolick is optimistic that the playoff experience will serve them well in the future.

The Road Warriors opened their conference with a 5-1 record before making it to the playoffs as the sixth seed where they got a harsh reality check that even the explosive showing from Bolick was not enough to save the team.

“Experience prevailed. ‘Yung team na iyon well-oiled machine well-coached. Ganun talaga, need experience,” said Bolick who, after exploding for 48 points in the series opener, was held to just 18 – a testament to the Bolts' adjustments on the defensive end in their 100-81 Game 2 win.

“Iba na yung laruan sa playoffs eh, iba sa amin na first time pa ang laki ng inakyat namin from last conference,” he added.

Still, it was an improvement for the team which missed the playoffs in the Commissioner’s Cup. For Bolick, it was part of the growing pains for a young team like the Road Warriors

“Kailangan lang namin matuto as a team, team sport naman to so pagtalo, lahat talo. Okay lang lesson learned lang. Ang daming rookies sa team sana next conference, medyo may experience na rin kami kung paano yung laruan sa playoffs,” he added.

With NLEX heading for the exit in the first round, Bolick could only imagine what could have been if only the Road Warriors managed to sustain their hot start. 

The veteran guard said they should learn to take advantage of any opportunity especially now that the teams are almost at par to each other already.

“Kailangan yung killer instinct yung gutom nandun 5-1 na kami diba, may chance kami sa top 2 tapos nangyari ito,” said Bolick who also wrapped up his comeback season after a brief stint in Japan B.League.

“Sa tinagal tagal ko sa PBA ito yung pinakamagandang conference na nilaro ko. Kaya kang talunin kahit sino kapag di ka ready. Halos lahat 6-5 eh,” he noted.

“Dapat pag may opportunity kami dapat step on the pedal pero normal yung sa inexperienced team na puro bata,” he added.