PBA: Arvin Tolentino drops 51 points as NorthPort routs Converge

NorthPort Batang Pier’s Arvin Tolentino scores 51 points in the PBA Governors’ Cup. –PBA IMAGES

Arvin Tolentino scored a career-high 51 points in an incredible offensive display as NorthPort clobbered Converge, 135-109, Thursday in Group A of the PBA Governors’ Cup at Ninoy Aquino Stadium.

Tolentino perhaps solidified himself as one of the league’s best scorers as he became the first player to reach the half-century since ex-Batang Pier Stanley Pringle in 2018, carrying his team to a 2-1 record.

The output also matches the most in 20 years when Asi Taulava put up 51 for TNT in a win over Purefoods in a Fiesta Conference game in May 2004.

PBA: Arvin Tolentino thriving as NorthPort ‘leader’

NorthPort will end the evening in second place in the group, trailing the winner of the TNT-Magnolia game being played as of posting time.

Converge fell to an even 2-2 slate, with no comeback in sight this time after coming off an unbelievable four-point winner by import Scotty Hopson against TNT despite a double-digit deficit last Tuesday at Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Hopson finished with 24 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists for the FiberXers.

READ: PBA: Despite trade rumors, Arvin Tolentino committed to NorthPort

The FiberXers also lost Justin Arana to an apparent leg injury in the second half, his condition still being determined by the team.

Tolentino went 15 of 27 from the field and added seven rebounds and three assists for the Batang Pier.

Joshua Munzon also contributed 19 points and five steals and Jio Jalalon added 13 points, five assists and two steals for NorthPort.