MACAO – As the Seoul SK Knights exited the court of the Tap Seac Multi-Sports Pavilion at the end of its 89-69 loss to the Taoyuan Pilots, Arvin Tolentino was left behind, as he tended to a motley crew seated just above the bench of the KBL team.
READ: Arvin Tolentino, Seoul SK Knights fall to Taoyuan in EASL Finals
As it turned out, the throng were Filipino basketball fans who came over to watch the 30-year-old former PBA player see action for the SK Knights.
Tolentino, who had a team-high 18 points in a losing cause, reciprocated their support by obliging to have his photo taken with them and signed some placards and other game mementos.
Seoul's Asian import later said he was no longer surprised seeing Filipinos in the stands and watching the EASL Finals that kicked off on Wednesday.
“I was really expecting a lot of Filipinos to watch our game. As you guys all know, Filipinos are all over the world, we support each other,” said Tolentino of the warm reception he received, similar to what tennis sensation Alex Eala has been getting but on a wide and larger scale.
Not just in EASL
The two-time PBA champion and former Best Player of the Conference disclosed how Filipino fans also watched the Knights play in other parts of Asia during the group stage of the EASL where they faced the likes of Utsunomiya Brex, Taipei Fubon Braves, and Hong Kong Eastern.
“Actually we went to Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Japan, and there were a lot of Filipinos who watched us,” noted Tolentino.
“Basketball is really the No. 1 sport in our country. We’re crazy about it, so everywhere you go in Asia, for sure Filipino fans are going to watch our games.”
Too bad, the SK Knights failed to secure a spot in the semifinals with that 20-point loss against the Pilots.
Still, Tolentino hopes to be back with Seoul in the EASL by next year and make another run for the $1.5 million championship.
“Still a long way to go, but when time comes, we’re going to play in the EASL again,” he said.
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