PBA: Arvin Tolentino says knee injury forced him out vs Ginebra

NorthPort forward Arvin Tolentino watches on the bench during the PBA Commissioner’s Cup quarterfinals against Ginebra.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines—Arvin Tolentino rued missing NorthPort’s biggest game of the season on Friday due to a lingering knee injury.

With Tolentino rendered helpless on the bench, the Batang Pier didn’t have enough in a 106-93 loss to Barangay Ginebra in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup quarterfinals.

“I have a Patellofemural knee pain. I felt in during our last game against Ginebra, Actually, I was already feeling the pain during the Asian Games. But in that last game, the pain didn’t subside and the level of pain was 10/10 so I went to the doctor and that was the finding,” said Tolentino, referring to the January 7 game against Ginebra where he had 27 points in a 103-93 defeat in the elimination round.

Arvin Tolentino during a game against Ginebra in the elimination round of the PBA Commissioner’s Cup on January 7, 2024.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

Tolentino, who is having a breakout season, said he would’ve forced himself to play had NorthPort avoided elimination and forced a knockout game against Ginebra.

“The good news is, the knee structure is fine and I just need to rehab. No need for an operation. If it had a Game 2, I would’ve played,” said Tolentino, who began his PBA career with Ginebra after being selected 10th overall in the 2019 draft.

Still, the 28-year-old Tolentino had quite a run in the Commissioner’s Cup after leading all locals in scoring with 22.36 points a game that put himself among the best players this conference even though it wasn’t his primary goal.

“I’m a bit happy to be included in the top players and performers of this conference but we lost today and we didn’t make the semis so that’s nothing. My personal goal is to really reach the semis and from there see what happens but it is what it is.”