AFTER Arvin Tolentino, Stephen Holt now welcomes the challenge of defending Calvin Oftana come the finals of the PBA Commissioner’s Cup.
That’s from one top Best Player of the Conference contender after the other.
The sophomore guard said he’s just pleased in helping the Kings on defense the way he did in clamping down the high-scoring Tolentino during Ginebra’s five-game series against Northport in the semis.
READ: Stephen Holt clamps down on Arvin Tolentino again in Game Two
“Obviously, I take pride on my defense and be able to show my skills on the other end,” said last season’s Rookie of the Year during the formal presser for the best-of-seven title series between the Kings and the TNT Tropang Giga.
“I got to go with my role in this group.”
He perfectly did the job against Tolentino in the semis, limiting the player favored to win the BPC award to just 12.8 points in five games after averaging 23.2 going to the Final Four.
Holt described Tolentino as a very talented player.
“He made me work defensively. I got to use my IQ and my instinct to continue doing my assigned job,” said the 33-year-old Fil-American guard.
Next is Oftana, who is expected to give the 29-year-old Tolentino a run for his money in the BPC race.
The TNT wingman averaged 16.0 points in the semis series against Rain or Shine while shooting a high 46 percent from three-point range (12-of-26).
While Holt is willing to take on the job, he also believes it should be a defensive team effort on the part of the Kings if they’re going to shut down Oftana and the rest of the TNT shooters.
“We're a defensive-first team. It’s not just me, it’s a team effort,” he later expounded after the presser.
Nonetheless, whether it’s Oftana or any of TNT’s designated gunners, Holt said he’ll be ready.
“I’m looking forward to being pitted against any of the guys at TNT and I hope to get the job done this time,” added Holt, obviously referring to Ginebra losing to TNT in the last finals of the Governors’ Cup.
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