NorthPort's Arvin Tolentino Receives PBA Player Of The Week Honors

by Raymund Tamayo

NorthPort Batang Pier's Arving Tolentino (#10) was named as the PBA Player of the Week. Photo credit: PBA Images.

It was as if the real Arvin Tolentino was unleashed after his trade to NorthPort Batang Pier last week.

Playing in two 2022 PBA Commissioner's Cup matches so far, the former FEU Tamaraw averaged 19.0 points, 8.0 rebounds, 4.0 assists, and 2.0 steals, and 2.5 blocks to make his mark in head coach Pido Jarencio's squad.

He also shot 46 percent from the field, including an impressive 47 percent from beyond the arc, and 90 percent from the free throw line to earn the PBA Player of the Week award for the period of September 21 to 24.

“Ang iniisip ko, gusto ako ni coach Pido (Jarencio). Gusto ako ng NorthPort. I don’t want to think na ayaw sa akin ng Ginebra,” Tolentino said in an interview. “I want to prove to them na hindi sila nagkamali. ‘Yun ‘yung mentality na nilalagay ko.”

Arvin Tolentino is proving his worth in his new home! 🛳️🧡#PBAGameTayoDito #PBAonOneSports pic.twitter.com/1U85uN1djY

— One Sports (@OneSportsPHL) September 26, 2022

Just a day after Barangay Ginebra San Miguel dealt him, Prince Caperal, and a 2022 first-round pick to NorthPort for Jamie Malonzo, the 6-5 swingman tallied solid numbers of 16 points, six boards, seven assists, two steals, and four blocks in a 92-89 win over the Phoenix Fuel Masters.

Then three days later, Tolentino came up with a huge 22-point, 10-rebound double-double as Batang Pier came up short in defeating guest team Bay Area Dragons, 105-104. He made a crucial steal during crunch time of that match, which would have added to their lead if not for the missed layup at the other end.

Tolentino was selected by Barangay Ginebra as the 10th pick of the 2019 PBA Draft. He played for the Gin Kings for two seasons and averaged 5.4 points, 2.1 rebounds, 0.5 assists, and 15.2 minutes in 48 games.

Other nominees for the weekly award were Tolentino's Batang Pier teammate Robert Bolick, and Blackwater Bossing's Troy Rosario, Rashawn McCarthy, and Baser Amer.