PBA: Arvin Tolentino becomes highest-scoring local in 20 years

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

Arvin Tolentino acknowledged that he’ll likely have a bigger target on his back after equaling the most points scored by a local player in two decades.

That’s why the NorthPort star, who went off for a career-high 51 points in a 135-109 rout of Converge—which coach Bonnie Tan described as a “statement win” following a recent comment involving an assistant from the opposite side—is eager to do more.

“To be honest, I always wanted to see myself as being one of the best,” Tolentino said. “It’s always been my dream, to play against the best.”

Tolentino is the first PBA player to score that many points since TNT legend Asi Taulava in 2004 after making 15 of 27 attempts, including five from three-point territory, as the Batang Pier improved to 2-1 in Group A.

His performance is likely an offshoot to why NorthPort came to the contest, at least in Tan’s eyes, with a chip on its shoulder after Converge assistant Danny Ildefonso was fined P20,000 for making comments relating to the contract impasse between the Batang Pier and Ildefonso’s son, Dave, who was picked fifth in the Rookie Draft.

“We opened that topic before the game and I think we were all challenged with that statement,” said Tan, referring to Ildefonso’s “farm team” comment in describing NorthPort, which he posted in response to a netizen.

Both Tan and the elder Ildefonso acted civilly as they shook hands after the final buzzer, although Ildefonso was playful with other NorthPort players and coaches, namely Abu Tratter and assistant Rensy Bajar.

Wasted chance

But the spotlight shone brightly on Tolentino, who was also the first to breach the half-century mark since Stanley Pringle’s 50-point masterpiece as a then-member of the Batang Pier franchise in 2018.

Converge, which came off a win that featured the first four-pointer to win a game, dropped to 2-2, the opportunity to gain sole possession of the lead in the group wasted.

That will allow the winner of the nightcap being played at press time between Magnolia and TNT to gain the solo lead in Group A.

Group B leader Rain or Shine, however, is keen on keeping its status as the only team left with a perfect record Friday at 5 p.m. against Phoenix at the same venue.

The Elasto Painters can improve to 4-0 with a victory and continue an impressive showing that was very evident two nights earlier in a 124-105 blowout of the NLEX Road Warriors despite a 21-point first half deficit.

Jhonard Clarito made all nine attempts for 24 points while being active on the defensive end to key Rain or Shine’s performance, which coach Yeng Guiao hopes to continue against winless Phoenix.

Barangay Ginebra, coming off Justin Brownlee’s 51-point explosion against San Miguel Beer, faces winless Blackwater in the 7:30 p.m. second game.