NORTHPORT missed its best player in its most important game of the campaign.
Arvin Tolentino sat out the Batang Pier's must-win quarterfinal game against defending PBA Commissioner's Cup champion Barangay Ginebra on Friday at the Philsports Arena.
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There was no word on Tolentino's fitness in the days leading to the match and at posting time, Northport has yet to make an official statement as to why he didn't play.
The Batang Pier later confirmed Tolentino is being bothered by a hurting knee.
A courtside report said Tolentino has been hounded by a jumper's knee in the days leading up to the knockout match.
Tolentino showed up in civilian clothes and cheered the team on from the bench as the fifth-seeded Batang Pier try to stay alive against the twice-to-beat Kings.
Without Tolentino, the team trailed Ginebra by 20 points, 55-35, by halftime.
Arvin third in BPC race
The former Ginebra forward incidentally leads the league in scoring with an average of 22.5 points and is running third in the race for the Best Player of the Conference award.
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