ARVIN Tolentino rejected the impression that Northport is now his team.
After coming through with a new career-high of 51 points, the 28-year-old forward said the Batang Pier are all about team concept as seen in their 135-109 demolition of Converge FiberXers in Thursday night’s PBA Governors Cup.
Tolentino gave credit to import Venky Jois and the rest of the locals for making his new franchise scoring record possible.
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“This team is not a one-man team like a lot of people are saying,” he said following the game at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium. “We play as a team, we have fun, magkakakampi. I think that’s one big factor kung bakit maganda ang inilaro namin.”
True enough, four other Batang Pier finished in double figures in the team’s second straight win.
Joshua Munzon had 19 points, Jio Jalalon with 13, Damie Cuntapay added 11, and William Navarro with 10. Jois was only good for six points, but had 10 rebounds, and six assists while doing other intangibles not seen on the stats sheet.
“Venky is a great addition to us. His attitude, the way he plays the game, talagang nakakahawa,” said Tolentino of the Australian import who’s in his second tour of duty with Northport.
And then, there’s the rest of the locals.
“It’s a total team effort for us. I scored 51, but I also give credit to my teammates who gave their best today,” he said. “They deserve the spotlight also.”
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