ARVIN TOLENTINO SAVORS THRILL OF BEATING FORMER TEAM GINEBRA

THERE’S no greater feeling than beating Barangay Ginebra.

Now on the opposite end of the floor, Arvin Tolentino got to experience firsthand how fulfilling it was winning over his former team in such a close game as the Northport Batang Pier had against the Kings.

READ: NorthPort stands ground in thriller, ends losing streak vs Ginebra

"Eto pala yung feeling na ang sarap talunin ng Ginebra. I mean no offense (meant)," said an all-smiling Tolentino after the Batang Pier kept the top spot in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup with a 119-116 thriller against the Kings at the Philsports Arena Wednesday night.

"Siyempre nakita ninyo naman yung crowd. I’ve been there and I felt that also na talagang may target sa likod mo as a Ginebra player. So happy, masaya naman."

For Tolentino, the win was his first in six tries against the same franchise that selected him no. 10 overall in the 2019 draft.

PHOTO: Jerome Ascaño

For Northport, the win was the first in five years since Game 1 of the 2019 Governors’ Cup semifinals, a stretch that saw the team lose to Ginebra 14 straight games.

The 29-year-old forward certainly had a lot to do with the victory as he finished with 29 points includig a 6-of-9 shooting from beyond the arc, the last of which came with 2:18 left and gave Northport a 114-105 lead.

Tolentino also added five rebounds, two assists, and three steals in close to 40 minutes of playing time.

The inspiring win, which the Batang Pier pulled off after losing a 94-76 advantage in the third quarter, improved Northport’s league-leading record to 7-1, earning at least a playoff for the first quarterfinals slot.

More importantly, it’s a boost to the campaign of a team that has underachieved for the past few seasons despite having the right materials to contend for a championship.

"Malaking boost sa amin ito beating Ginebra. As we all know, Ginebra is a great team, coached by a great coach, probably the greatest," he said of the team where he won two championships in the past before being shipped to Northport in a surprise trade in 2022.

"It’s a morale booster for us."

Three more elite teams are standing next for the Batang Pier, namely Meralco, Rain or Shine, and defending champion San Miguel.

The Ginebra win certainly comes as a dandy for Northport.

"We’ll try to win more," Tolentino concluded. 

2025-01-08T16:07:21Z