Barangay Ginebra San Miguel head coach Tim Cone has always lauded Arvin Tolentino. And on Sunday night, the rookie showed why the decorated mentor has been heaping praises on his game.
The former Far Eastern University forward scored 11 points on 4-of-8 shooting alongside four rebounds and a steal in the 21 minutes he played as a starter. And his performance helped the Gin Kings beat Meralco, 105-91.
“Arvin is a talent,” said Cone moments after the win — their third in as many games, which sent them on top of the standings, along with TNT and Rain or Shine.
“I’ve been saying it since the day we drafted him, he is a talented kid.”
For the 22-time champion coach, team plans for Tolentino to further expand his outside shooting — a shot he occasionally took during his time with the Tamaraws.
“In FEU, he was more of a stretch four, and he would shoot occasional threes as a trailer. We’re trying to expand his game. We’re trying to get him to shoot threes from different angles, move without the ball,” Cone said.
But for Cone, the Barangay’s 10th pick in last year’s regular draft is more than just a shooter. He also sees Tolentino as a versatile player. And he expects Tolentino to blossom within their scheme of things.
“He can put the ball on the floor, he can rebound, he had a nice blocked shot today. He is very long. He is really talented. I think his game can really grow with the kind of style of play that we play him,” he said.
With that, the 62-year-old bench tactician feels excited to see how the 24-year-old will improve in the near future.
“I think he can really be an asset. I can’t imagine what he is going to be like a year or two from now. Just the first couple of games, he hasn’t had any practice, but he is still making an impact.”
