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    La Salle reject Neil Tolentino delivers for UE at expense of Green Archers

    Tolentino admits 'hugot' in faceoff against former school La Salle
    Sep 14, 2019
    PHOTO: marlo cueto

    SNUBBED in La Salle, University of the East rookie Neil Tolentino made sure to show his former school what it missed as he was one of the difference maker for the Red Warriors' 89-88 win over the Green Archers on Saturday.

    "May hugot din ako eh kasi former La Salle ako. Hindi ako napansin doon so ngayon, gusto ko ipakita na ito ako at kaya ko," he said.

    After graduating high school in Letran, Tolentino went to La Salle to begin his collegiate career and was even a key cog in the Green Archers' summer tourneys last year.

    Unfortunately, he was cut a month before the new season started and until now, he remembers the day when he finally got the word.

    "Actually, ramdam ko na rin sa training eh. Ginagamit ako, pero nag-iba na," he reminisced.

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      That led to Tolentino taking his act to Recto and join the Red Warriors, where he bid his time until he finally got to make his debut this UAAP Season 82.

      "Naging motivation lang yun para lalo kong galingan," he said. "Nung time na maka-cut na nga ako, nag-decide ako na maghanap ng ibang school. Nahanap ko yung UE na tinanggap ako nang buo. Kung anong matutulong ko sa kanila, binigay ko lang."

      A year may have passed, but the pain still lingers for Tolentino. And that's where he drew the fire as he almost played unconscious in the Red Warriors' first meeting against the Green Archers.

      "Kaninang laro talaga, may hugot ako. Naiiyak ako sa game dahil gusto ko talaga manalo sa kanila. Gusto ko ipakita sa kanila na kaya ko, na di ako basta-basta. Gusto ko ipakita na bakit dati, ganun yung nangyari sa akin. Ngayon, gusto kong makabawi talaga," he said.

      The 21-year-old forward sure did that, injecting the energy for UE as he poured a career-best 19 points on an uber-efficient 8-of-11 clip from the field, to go with three rebounds and two steals with zero turnovers.

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      More than his numbers, Tolentino was also a pest on the defensive end, hounding his former peers Aljun Melecio and Andrei Caracut whenever they held the leather.

      "Sinuklian ko lang din yung tiwala ni (active consultant) Lawrence (Chongson) na di lang puro depensa, kailangan din may opensa," he said.

      And there's no denying how sweet this victory was for Tolentino, that UE finally broke thr drought this season and did that at the expense of La Salle.

      "Tumatakbo sa isip ko na alam kong kaya naming manalo. Tapos ako rin, may hugot nga talaga ako sa game," he said as he tried to hide his emotions after the game. "Nagpapasalamat talaga ako kasi 0-3 nga kami tapos La Salle pa tinalo namin."

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      PHOTO: marlo cueto
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