By REYNALD MAGALLON
There’s no love lost between NorthPort star Arvin Tolentino and his former team Barangay Ginebra and he believes seeing his past coaches and teammates on the other side of the court could only make their semifinals matchup even more exciting.
“Exciting syempre playing against Ginebra. Mga kumpare ko na yung mga players dun so it’s always fun and exciting time for me going up against them,” said Tolentino.
“May pinagsamahan din kami. For how many years magkakasama rin kami,” he added.
It will be the first time that Tolentino will meet Ginebra – a team where he won two PBA championships – in a semifinals setting.
It was even the versatile forward’s first Final Four since 2021 when he was still with the Kings and before getting shipped to NorthPort along with Prince Caperal for Jamie Malonzo
While it would be a reunion of sorts for Tolentino, he assured that he and his Batang Pier will be all business against the Kings especially with their franchise’s first Finals appearance at stake
“It’s gonna be an exciting series but we are still focused on that goal na next step which is to get into the finals. It’s a long series, best-of-seven so maraming chances,” said Tolentino ahead of their series that kicks off on Feb. 26.
The Batang Pier have all the momentum on their side especially after topping the eliminations with a 10-3 record – also a first in franchise history – before proving they were no flukes with a quick work of Magnolia, 113-110 in the quarterfinals.
While there are concerns that NorthPort might lose its competitive edge during the break, Tolentino sees it otherwise, noting that it would only give his team ample time to better prepare against Ginebra
“We have two weeks to prepare so we have time to prepare for the semifinals,” said the leading Best Player of the Conference candidate.
As for Ginebra’s defense and its familiarity to his game, the 29-year-old star refuses to believe that the outcome of the games will solely depend on him.
“That’s why lima yung naglalaro dun if they really focus on me I still have four teammates playing with me so I have to recognize that, yung defense (nila) kung ano yung binibigay sa akin,” he said.
“I cannot force things kasi unfair naman (sa teammates ko). First of all, papangit rin yung laro namin so I really have to involve everyone. If they are focusing on me may apat pa ako na kasama,” he stressed.
