MACAO – Given another shot at donning the national colors, Arvin Tolentino is more than willing to do it with all his heart and all his soul.
“If I’m able, why not. I’ll be ready,” said the 30-year-old Filipino at the sidelines of the 2026 EASL Finals on Tuesday as his team Seoul SK Knights is among the six squads which advanced to the post season that kicks offs on Wednesday at the Studio City here.
Tolentino was part of the Gilas Pilipinas team that ended a 61-year gold medal drought during the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games and the national squad that regained the men’s basketball title in the 2023 Southeast Asian Games in Cambodia.
He played for national coach Chot Reyes during the SEA Games and under Tim Cone – his former mentor at Barangay Ginebra – in the Asiad.
Arvin stays ready
With recent calls for Cone to expand his small 15-man pool, Tolentino said he’s on call if ever the national team would extend another invitation on him.
“It’s an honor. It’s a dream of mine to play for the national team,” said the 6-foot-5 gunner, whose actually no stranger to Cone’s system after playing his first three PBA seasons playing for the Kings.
Tolentino though believes the current Gilas core is dedicated in wearing the national jersey and focus in the country’s campaign in two major international tournaments this year – the ongoing Asian qualifiers for the 2027 FIBA World Cup and the 20th edition of the Asiad in Nagoya, Japan.
“Whoever is playing for sure naman they’re give their 100 percent. And full support ako sa kanila,” he said of the Gilas team which includes Tolentino’s fellow Korean Basketball League stalwarts Kevin Quiambao and Carl Tamayo.
Tolentino is currently in the first of a three-year contract he signed with the SK Knights after taking over the spot of Converge rookie Juan Gomez De Liano.
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