AT LEAST two teams each from Korea, the Japan B.League and the T1 league in Taiwan are eyeing PBA star Arvin Toleentino an an Asian special quota import.
This was bared to SPIN.ph by sources, who added the lanky NorthPort forward has drawn a lot of interest from overseas teams since he won Best Player of the Conference honors in the last PBA Commissioner's Cup.
Tolentino averaged 23.5 points, 7.8 assists and 3.5 rebounds per game in the import-laced conference. His contract with the Batang Pier expired last April 30 but continues to be bound to NorthPort until the end of the Philippine Cup in July under the auto-extend rule agreed upon in the PBA board.
READ Northport loses Arvin Tolentino to right hip flexor injury
However, the 29-year old has not played in the team's last three games - all of them losses - after suiting up in the opening win over Terrafirma, supposedly because of a hip flexor injury.
Team insiders bared the 6-foot-5 six-year pro continues to attend practice but is limited to shooting practice as his status remains day-to-day going to the Batang Pier's next outing against the Meralco Bolts on May 9.
Sources said Tolentino can still afford to finish his contract with NorthPort since the KBL season won’t start until September while the B.League, currenly in the playoffs stage, won't open its next season until October 25. The Taiwan League is also set to kick off around the same time.
But will Arvin stay with the Batang Pier beyond this season?
Sources said that's an entirely different story for the multi-talented forward, who is constantly rumored to be a trade target of SMC teams Barangay Ginebra and Magnolia but remained stuck at NorthPort since 2022, when he and Prince Caperal were traded by the Gin Kings to get their hands on Jamie Malonzo.
The interest in Tolentino among B.League teams comes as the flourishing Japan league opened doors to Asian imports from seven more nations, giving its teams a shot at hiring tall players from Mongolia and India.
The B.League is also set to hold its first rookie draft in June.
Tolentino, sources said, should be a perfect import for B.League teams that are now putting more premium on size when it comes to Asian imports. No Japan team with a Filipino import made this season's playoffs.
“Puro malalaki na ang hinahanap ng tatlong liga na yun, kaya pansinin mo isa-isa nang nag-uuwian yung mga dating import na gwardya,” said a source.
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