Arvin Tolentino admitted NorthPort badly missed the services of injured big man JM Calma as the Batang Pier failed to advance to the 2024 PBA Philippine Cup playoffs despite a strong start to the conference.

Calma went down with an anterior cruciate ligament injury in the Batang Pier’s game against the Barangay Ginebra Kings and lost five straight matches afterwards following a 4-1 start.

Without the 6-foot-7 big man to anchor the defense for the team, NorthPort was left to rely on rookie Zav Lucero and Will Navarro, both not natural centers, to man the paint.

It was a ploy Terrafirma, behind its slashers in Stephen Holt, Juami Tiongson and Javi Gomez De Liano, took advantage of to take the 105-96 win over NorthPort and the last playoff spot.

“We missed JM Calma siya yung main big talaga if titingnan natin siya talaga yung legit big man namin. These guys sina Zav, Will, parang we’re asking too much na rin from them,” said Tolentino.

“Di naman talaga sila natural bigs  but they’ve done a great job on that I guess that’s it medyo nabitin lang siguro ng kaunti,” he dded.

Tolentino also lamented at how NorthPort failed to sustain the hot start that saw them win four straight games including the rousing 112-96 win over TNT where Calma even emerged as the best player of the game.

NorthPort managed to stay in the playoff conversation after Tolentino drilled the game-winner in the crucial victory over Blackwater but that was only enough to get a playoff for eighth spot.

“Ang ganda ng start namin we won four straight we lost five straight, talo isa then panalo isa but you know it’s a great experience for us especially for my teammates,” said Tolentino who himself struggled with just 13 points.

“This would be good for them going forward. We just have to learn from this experience. We’ll be okay,” he assured.