ARVIN Tolentino arrived in South Korea on Sunday to formally join his new team Seoul SK Knights for the coming season of the Korean Basketball League.
But his decision to take his act to the KBL was made as far back as the start of the PBA Philippine Cup - or just a few weeks after he won his first-ever Best Player of the Conference award in the Commissioner’s Cup.
“Dati pa ready 'yan. Bago pa mag-start ang conference (Philippine Cup),” a source told SPIN.ph.
The 29-year-old Tolentino’s contract however, runs until the end of April, so much so that he had to play in two of the Batang Pier’s first four games.
He suited up against Terrafirma in a 97-75 win behind a statsline of 19 points, 12 assists, and eight rebounds.
Citing a hurting hip flexor, Tolentino sat out Northport’s 113-96 loss to Rain or Shine, and then saw action in a 120-98 setback to Blackwater in what turned out to be his final game for the franchise, finishing with 15 points, six rebounds, and two steals.
Tolentino then skipped the Batang Pier’s next two games against Barangay Ginebra and Meralco, both of which the team lost.
READ Coach Bonnie leaves NorthPort porch light on for Arvin homecoming
The outing against the Bolts on May 9 proved to be the last time Tolentino was seen on the Northport bench and in street clothes.
Three weeks after, Seoul SK Knights formally announced that it has signed the former Batang Pier and Gilas Pilipinas stalwart to a lucrative, three-year contract.
“Nagpaalam na siya sa team. Nung ininterview ninyo siya (after the Meralco game), yun nagpaalam na siya sa dugout after ng game,” another source privy to the timeline of Tolentino’s final days with Northport related.
To Arvin, here’s wishing you the best of luck in your new basketball endeavor.
Jumbo Dimaculangan is next UE volleyball coach
A familiar face is set to regain the coaching reins for an embattled University of the East women’s volleyball team program.
SPIN.ph sources bared that Ronwald ‘Jumbo’ Dimaculangan will return to call the shots for the Lady Red Warriors from UAAP Season 88 onwards.
The Alas Pilipinas Women deputy coach was the last UE WVT head coach from Seasons 84 to 85 before Frank Lao-led Strong Group Athletics (SGA) backed the program in the two succeeding seasons.
READ Reyes, Cepada remain as UE welcomes new coach, backer
From there, SGA-backed Jerry Yee, Obet Vital and Allan Mendoza took over, with the former being the only official head coach as the latter two assumed the role in interim capacities.
Moving forward, Dimaculangan will also become their first head coach after SGA’s decision not to renew its sponsorship of the team.
It has been a rocky few days for UE WVT in light of a mass exodus of players reportedly prompted by the university-led team tryout to pump new blood to their struggling program.
Mendoza and his staff were also axed after an 0-14 campaign in Season 87.
Following SGA’s exit, the university has yet to name its new sponsor for the women’s volleyball program. - John Mark Garcia
Baste beats top UAAP school for Gilas guard Esperanza
THE rebulding San Sebastian Staglets just beat out a top UAAP school for former UAAP finals MVP Mark Esperanza.
The Staglets apparently weren’t expecting much when they tried to secure the services of the former stalwart of the Gilas Pilipinas Youth team that competed in the FIBA U18 Asia Cup in Amman, Jordan last year.
Esperanza, after all, already attended a practice of a well-financed UAAP power and had a sitdown with no less than the coach of the team, according to SPIN.ph sources.
But the 5-foot-11 point guard opted to take his act to Recto and nixed the opportunity to play for the influential school, which is eyeing Esperanza for its college team once he played out his final season as a junior.
During his two-year stay with Adamson, Esperanza helped the Baby Falcons end a 31-year title drought when they defeated powerhouse National University-Nazareth School to win the high school boys championship in Season 86.
In his final season with the Baby Falcons, he averaged 16.6 points, 5.7 assists, 4.9 rebounds, and 1.5 steals as Adamson reached the Final Four but failed to retain its title.
Esperanza is so far the biggest recruit of the San Sebastian Staglets, who will have a new backer in Jackson Chua, the man behind the MPBL team Basilan Viva Portmasters along with team manager Bernard Yang.
Coaching the team is Chelito Caro, a former assistant of Goldwin Monteverde when they were still with NU Nazareth School. - Gerry Ramos
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