
Arvin Tolentino finally shrugged off an incident that got his PBA Governors’ Cup Finals stint off on a wrong foot with a key performance in Barangay Ginebra San Miguel’s Game 5 victory over Meralco.
Tolentino was part of the Gin Kings’ torrid shooting in the 115-110 win Sunday, April 17 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, making four three-point shots on his way to a series-best 16 points.
It was a sort of redemption for Tolentino who was involved in a heated exchange with Meralco’s Raymar Jose following Ginebra’s 104-91 defeat in Game 1.
The sophomore forward was not penalized by the league, but didn’t see action in Game 2 in a move coach Tim Cone later said was more of a coaching decision rather than a disciplinary action.
“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,” Tolentino said.
He also said that his rollercoaster finals has not prevented him from staying focused on how to help Ginebra produce another championship at the expense of Meralco.
“Hindi ko naman iniisip na it’s all about me. Ang talagang mentality ko is to help the team,” he said. “Kailangan makapag-prepare ako nang maayos para maglaro nang maayos to help the team.
“It doesn't matter kung maglaro ako or no, 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.”
A win in Wednesday’s Game 6 will give Tolentino his second championship since turning pro in 2020.
The ex-Far Eastern University mainstay was part of Ginebra’s title run in the 2020 Philippine Cup bubble in Clark, Pampanga.