MANILA, Philippines – As Robert Bolick entered the court at the Ynares Sports Arena for the second half of their do-or-die game against the Racal Tile Masters, a familiar voice called out to him.

"'Yung larong championship!" former De La Salle University volleyball superstar Abigail Maraño told Bolick sharply. "Step up ka!"

Bolick struggled through the first half of Game 3 of the PBA D-League Aspirants Cup Finals, missing six of seven shots for only four points. Cignal-San Beda trailed 35-43 at the half, and the momentum seemed to be firmly on Racal's side.

But the Hawkeyes quickly turned the tide in their favor. Bolick assisted on a Javee Mocon lay-up to cap a 6-0 run, and midway through the frame, he knocked down back-to-back triples to tie the game at 48. Cignal and San Beda went back-and-forth at each other for most of the fourth quarter, before Mocon took charge to put them ahead for good late.

It was Bolick who iced the victory, draining clutch free throws with 4.4 seconds left for an 81-78 victory that sealed them the Aspirants Cup title.

• Read: Mocon powers Cignal to PBA D-League title

"Noong first half, pinuntahan niya ako, nagalit pa," Bolick said, smiling, after Cignal celebrated the victory. "Sabi ko, okay, sige, sige, I'll play like a champion."

[After the first half, she approached me and she was mad. So I told her, okay, I'll play like a champion.]

Maraño spent the first half up on the stands, but once she headed down the courtside seats at halftime, she couldn't go back.

"Nanggigigil na ako doon sa pwesto ko doon sa taas," she admitted.

[I couldn't sit still up in the stands.]

Maraño said she wasn't mad at her boyfriend, but only sought to give him a reminder. "Nakikita ko kasi first half, hindi 'yun 'yung championship na larong inaasahan ko from him. So kanina, inabagan ko na siya, sakto siya unang lumabas," she said

"Paglabas pa lang niya, nakita na niya ako, nakatitig na siya sa akin. Alam na namin sa isa't isa yung titigan na 'yun," she added. "Ganun kasi 'yung relationship namin e. We're like teammates."

"After nun, nakita ko naman 'yung improvement. Every time na nagtitinginan kami, 'yung beast mode na titigan, alam na namin 'yung mensahe."

[I could see that in the first half, he wasn't playing at a championship level. So I really waited for him to exit the dugout, and when I saw him, he was already looking at me. We already understood each other at that point, because that's how our relationship works. We're like teammates. After that, I saw his improvement.]

Her position along the sidelines gave her a perfect view of the game, and she was the first to stand up and cheer when Bolick drained the clutch free throws.

She was also the first person that Bolick sought out after the victory, and they shared a sweet hug and a kiss as the rest of the Cignal team celebrated in the background.

Robert Bolick celebrating with atyang Aby @Abymarano after the win pic.twitter.com/9w0MxlkZqM

— Camille B. Naredo (@camillenaredo) April 6, 2017

There is no doubt that her presence had a strong impact on Bolick.

"May kasama kang MVP, may kasama kang leader, Beast-mode maglaro, natutulungan niya ako. Sobrang happy," said Bolick. "Credit to her also kasi sabi niya sa akin, in time. Siya pa nga nagagalit kung nakahiga lang ako e."

"Sinasabi niya, ano bang ginagawa mo dyan. Lumabas ka nga dun, mag-ano ka nga. Credit to her, sinasabi ko nga, lahat ng na-achieve ko, kalahati nun, sa teammates, sa family, kay Aby," he added.

[You have an MVP, a leader, someone who plays on Beast Mode, and she really helps me. I'm so happy. I give a lot of credit to her, because she's the one who reminds me that my time will come. She's the one who gets made when I just lie around and do nothing, and tells me to go to work. As I always say, half of what I achieve is due to my teammates, my family, and Aby.]

Maraño said she never once doubted that Bolick will heed her advice and leave his mark on the game. "Naniwala ako sa kanya kasi sinubaybayan ko laro niya," she said.

And when Bolick indeed came up with big plays in crunch time, no one was prouder.

"Sobrang proud ako. Parang gusto kong iwagayway 'yung jersey niya na Beda," said Maraño.

[I'm so proud. I want to wave his San Beda jersey.]

(For more sports coverage, visit the ABS-CBN Sports website.)