MANILA, Philippines – Arvin Tolentino is on track for his first PBA Best Player of the Conference (BPC) plum after steering NorthPort to its first semifinal stint in over five years.
Tolentino emerged as the favorite for the coveted award, being the only player in the top three of statistical points (SPs) whose team is in the final four of the Commissioner’s Cup.
San Miguel’s June Mar Fajardo and NLEX’s Robert Bolick finished first and third, respectively, in SPs at the end of the elimination round, with Tolentino sandwiched between the two, but their teams both failed to reach the playoffs.
Their early exit allowed Tolentino to install himself as the BPC frontrunner as he is poised to become just the second Batang Pier player to win the prize after Christian Standhardinger.
But the do-it-all forward said guiding NorthPort to a breakthrough final appearance takes precedence over individual accolades.
“It is a big reward, big bonus for me if ever I win that. But I’m really focused on winning more or getting to the finals,” said Tolentino.
Tolentino wrapped up the elimination round with all-around numbers of 23.0 points, 7.4 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 1.5 steals, and 1.1 blocks to average 39.9 SPs.
He finished behind Fajardo (20.1 points, 16.3 rebounds, and 3.5 assists) with 42.0 SPs and ahead of Bolick (23.5 points, 7.8 assists, and 3.5 rebounds) with 37.1 SPs.
Fortifying his BPC case, Tolentino delivered 25 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists, and 2 blocks as the top-seed Batang Pier scored a 113-110 win over Magnolia to reach the semifinals for just the third time in franchise history.
Tolentino, though, said the BPC is as much his as it his his teammates’.
After all, Joshua Munzon ranked sixth among locals in SPs, while Kadeem Jack is a contender for the Best Import honors.
“My teammates also deserve that. If I can share it with them, pieces of that award, if ever I win,” said Tolentino, who earned a First Mythical Team selection last season.
Tolentino and NorthPort are on standby as they wait for their semifinal foe, which will either be Barangay Ginebra or Meralco. – Rappler.com