ARVIN Tolentino looks forward in sharing the same court again with Barangay Ginebra in the semifinals, not as teammates but as adversaries this time.
Tolentino and the rising Northport Batang Pier find themselves crossing paths with the Kings in the best-of-seven semifinals of the PBA Commissioner’s Cup.
READ: NorthPort capable of beating Ginebra with its pace, youth, depth
While this doesn’t mark the first time the 29-year-old forward will be meeting his former team in the playoffs, the encounter earned added significance given the fact the Batang Pier are the no. 1 team heading to the semis and Tolentino is the favorite to win his first ever Best Player of the Conference award.
The stage was set as Northport and Ginebra disposed their respective quarterfinals opponent in opposing fashion.
The Batang Pier didn’t allow the Magnolia Hotshots to get momentum and eliminated the eight seeded team right away, 113-110 in the quarterfinals.
The Kings for their part, needed to survive rival Meralco Bolts in a sudden-death of their best-of-three quarterfinals series to advance, 94-87.
Now, the Kings stand in the way of their former teammate’s determined bid to lead Northport to a first ever finals appearance in franchise history.
“It’s always fun and exciting time for me going up against them. Siyempre, may pinag-samahan din kami,” said Tolentino looking back.
“For how many years, halos araw-araw magkakasama kami. Mga kumpare ko na rin yung mga players doon, e.”
It was with Ginebra that Tolentino began his PBA career as the team’s first round pick in the 2019 draft.
He won a championship with the team right away in his rookie season when the Kings copped the title in the Philippine Cup bubble at Clark, Pampanga.
Tolentino won a second title in the 2022 Governors’ Cup, after which he would be traded by the team along with Prince Caperal and 2022 first round pick to Northport in exchange for Jamie Malonzo.
That championship run ironically, was also the last time he played in the semifinals.
“Last semis ko 2022, before ako na-trade. Governors’ Cup yun, panalo kami nun. Si Justin (Brownlee),” recalled Tolentino, his eyes sparkling while recalling his good old days with Ginebra.
All of those are now a thing of the past and what matters most for Tolentino is the present.
“This is an opportunity for me to lead again my teammates. We’re still focus on that goal na ang next step naman ngayon is to get into the finals,” he said.
“It’s going to be an exciting series. It’s a long series, it’s a best of seven, you know, marami kang chances,” added Tolentino. “Hopefully mag finals kami. Hindi naman masama ang mangarap, e.”
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