Tolentino continues rise as Batang Pier gunner, hopes his efforts will result in playoff appearance

NorthPort’s Arvin Tolentino.–PBA IMAGES

Arvin Tolentino and NorthPort are hoping that their 114-87 rout of NLEX in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup opener would serve as a good sign in their quest to make a return trip to the playoffs.

“That’s the goal,” Tolentino said after bucking a scoreless first quarter and a minor injury to produce 29 points in the Batang Pier’s triumph on Thursday at Ninoy Aquino Stadium.

Tolentino’s individual brilliance has not translated into a significant number of victories for NorthPort, which barely missed the top eight of last season’s Philippine Cup and won just three of 10 in the group stage of this year’s Governors’ Cup.

Now, NorthPort will look to be third-time lucky, banking on Tolentino plus import Kadeem Jack, who posted 25 points, six rebounds, three assists and two steals in the victory.

Jack was a last-minute signing after NorthPort initially tapped Kavell Bigby Williams.

“I think it’s very doable for us to make the quarterfinals,” Tolentino said. “We came up short the past two conferences, but hopefully we can make it this time.”

NorthPort won after trailing by 16 in the first quarter, turning things around in the second behind Tolentino and Jack plus other locals like Evan Nelle, who, despite being scoreless, had seven rebounds and eight assists.

But another big factor was that the Batang Pier held their former franchise star Robert Bolick to just three points, tying a career low.

Import Michael Griffin-Watkins’ 29 points and 19 rebounds for the Road Warriors were not enough to avoid a disappointing setback to open the midseason tourney.

Rushed to hospital

Meanwhile, the nightcap pitting Magnolia and Blackwatrer at press time was marred by an injury in which the Hotshots’ Calvin Abueva had to be rushed to the hospital after a first-half collision with the Bossing’s Cedric Barefield.

Abueva suffered from neck spasms and fell to the floor for a few minutes before medics took him out of the venue on a stretcher and a waiting ambulance.

Magnolia opened the tournament with returning import Ricardo Ratliffe, the former South Korea naturalized player who has not been in the PBA since 2017.

Blackwater, meanwhile, brought back George King for another tour of duty, as the Bossing have started life without Troy Rosario.

Rosario signed with Barangay Ginebra after his contract with Blackwater expired at the end of the Governors’ Cup.