By REYNALD MAGALLON
There must be something about November 12 and the Ynares Center in Antipolo that NorthPort star Arvin Tolentino really likes.
At the same venue, on the same date but exactly a year apart, Tolentino recorded the two best scoring displays of his PBA career.
On Nov. 12 last year, the sweet shooting forward unloaded a career-high of 31 points,12 rebounds, two assists, three steals, and one block to lead NorthPort to a 91-85 win over Terrafirma.
In celebration of the first anniversary of that performance, he reset his scoring career-high in an equally impressive showing of 35 points, nine rebounds and four steals in a 113-103 win over Rain or Shine.
Asked what’s special about the venue and the date that it brought out his best games, Tolentino was just as clueless as everyone – suggesting that it is merely coincidental.
“Ewan ko. Actually ngayon ko lang nalaman na yung last career-high ko same day and same venue rin,” said Tolentino.
“Sana dito na lang lagi,” he quipped.
If there’s something different between the two games, however, Tolentino was playing with more inspiration this time around, which might have been why there was a slight increase in scoring to reset his career-high.
“Yung mommy ko nanonood first time nya actually manood ng game ko kasi ano yun eh kabado. Kinakabahan sya kapag naglalaro ako. Mama’s boy eh so di siya nanonood pero ngayon nandyan sya,” he shared beaming with the wide smile.
For NorthPort though, how it wished it’s always Nov. 12 for Tolentino to keep his scoring spree and for the Batang Pier to sustain their surpising 2-0 start of the season.
Tolentino, who punctuated his scoring performance with a one-handed dunk over Gabe Norwood in transition, expressed no doubts that the Batang Pier’s can sustain the winning run especially with how their rookies are contributing and import Venky Jois is leading the way.
“In my personal opinion parang wala naman talaga kaming masyadong expectations. Kumabaga we really prepared for this season nag ready lang kami to give our best every game,” said Tolentino.
“We have Venky nga as an import an amazing guy overall yung hustle yung attitude. Siguro yun yung isa sa mga nagdala sa amin that’s why we are 2-0 ngayon,” he added.
