Arvin Tolentino made the most out of his return to Ginebra’s starting lineup.
The sophomore forward fired 16 points on 50-percent field goal shooting, on top of four rebounds and three steals as he helped GInebra seize Game Five of the PBA Governors’ Cup Finals through a 115-110 win over Meralco, Sunday night.
It was easily his best game in the championship series, and the most he has produced since dropping a conference-high 20 markers in a come-from-behind overtime triumph over Phoenix Super LPG last December 19.
The 26-year-old, however, said that he was just fortunate to shoot that well.
“First of all, masaya na nakuha namin yung panalo this game kasi malaking bagay sa amin yun. Two straight, especially in a best-of-seven series. Maganda yung naging shooting ko. Swerte. I think sinuwerte ako ngayong laro,” he said.
“Also, as a team kasi ‘yung shots, marami namang pwedeng tumira, basta mag-execute hahanapin ng bola yung titira. Swerte rin ako ‘yung nahanap ng bola,” added Tolentino, who went 4-of-9 from beyond the arc.
It was his first starting gig since Game One, which drew much attention online not just because of the Bolts’ win but due to the heated moment between the Angono-native and a fellow FEU Tamaraw in Raymar Jose in the last seconds.
None of them were sanctioned by Commissioner Willie Marcial, although the long-time league executive warned that they would be slapped with harsher penalties should either one of them figure in similar instances in the future.
Asked how he was able to refocus after that, the key was letting it go, he said.
“I just let it go and did not really think about it a lot,” said Tolentino. “We never talked about it. Every time may magtatanong sa akin, parang iwas na lang parang wala na yun, okay na yun, para hindi na bumalik pa yung memory.
“Kasi dapat hindi na nangyari yun, na dapat naiwasan. Yun na eh, nangyari. Yun lang yung ginagawa ko. Every time may magtatanong, inaano ko lang, sabi ko okay na ‘yun,” added the 2020 All-Rookie Team member.
“We never talked about it after. Not even once.”
He also doesn’t see any issue with his benching the following game, for all that really matters to him is to be of help to the Barangay whatever way he can — whether or not he gets brought in by head coach Tim Cone.
“First of all, hindi ko naman iniisip na it’s all about me. Ang talagang mentality ko is to help the team. Kailangan makapag-prepare ako nang maayos para maglaro nang maayos to help the team,” said Tolentino.
“It doesn’t matter kung maglaro ako or not, basta nandoon ako mag-cheer sa teammates ko, help them every practice para makapag-prepare rin. ‘Pag nabigyan ng opportunity, at least prepared ako at makakapaglaro ng maayos.”
And play well, he did.
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