Northport is gradually evolving into an Arvin Tolentino-led team.
Without Robert Bolick and Arwind Santos, Tolentino has assumed the mantle of leadership for the Batang Pier, who have made a fast start in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup.
The fourth-year wingman has been at the forefront of Northport’s 2-0 record early in the season.
He even reset his career-high in a 113-103 win over Rain or Shine on Sunday at the Ynares Center in Antipolo.
Tolentino, 28, torched the Elasto Painters for a new career-best 35 points, including 5-of-12 shooting from three-point range, leading the Batang Pier to the rousing victory.
(C) PBA Images
He capped his heroics with a one-handed slam dunk over Gabe Norwood, taking the fight out of the rallying Elasto Painters.
In two games, Tolentino, whose previous career-high was 31 points, averaged 25.5 points and shot 37.5 percent from three-point range, earning him the season’s first PBA Press Corps Player of the Week honor for the period Nov. 8-12.
Ironically, Tolentino set both of his PBA career-highs on Nov. 12 and on the same playing venue in Antipolo.
In Northport’s debut game against Terrafirma, the Gilas Pilipinas stalwart led the Batang Pier’s locals with 16 points in a 108-103 victory.
Two teams that have also made similar 2-0 starts, Magnolia and Meralco, have players nominated for the weekly honor handed out by the men and women covering the PBA beat: Chris Newsome and Cliff Hodge of the Bolts and Hotshots Paul Lee and Mark Barroca crowded out Tolentino for the Player of the Week award.
