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Although the awards that the PBA will award for the short 45th season are yet to be finalized, there is a strong chance that the league will continue to name its Rookie of the Year, even if the newest members of the PBA fraternity were only allowed to play. a conference.
TerraFirma Dyip’s Roosevelt Adams led all rookies in statistical points at the end of the knockout round, but now there are only three youngsters playing in the semi-finals with Meralco’s Aaron Black, TNT’s Kib Montalbo and Geneva’s Arvin Tolentino.
So far, Tolentino has been the only one to start from his team, which has allowed him to give an additional push in the race for the ROY award. Currently, he is averaging 8.7 points and 4.7 rebounds, getting about 25 minutes per game with coach Tim Cone.
Black, at the other extreme, averages 4.3 points and 3.0 rebounds in 15 minutes, while Montalbo has 4.0 points and 1.3 rebounds in 10 minutes per game.
For Tolentino, his stint as a starter in the semifinals so far is a byproduct of his hard work coupled with falling into a big situation with Barangay Ginebra. In terms of raw talent, Tolentino could easily have been a top five pick in the 2019 PBA Rookie Draft, but fate had a better plan for him.
“I wasn’t thinking about where he would land, but he wanted to be chosen in the first round,” Tolentino said. “During the draft, when I heard Coach O (Olsen Racela), I already felt that he was about to pick me. He said my full name and I was very happy because it was Geneva. Coach Tim wasn’t so much because Coach O does a lot of similar things. Coach O has been there to guide me and the veterans, so I was able to adapt quickly. “
Tolentino started the first few games for Barangay Geneva, but there were also games where he didn’t see many minutes with Cone doing his best to balance between getting the other players in shape and keeping those with aches and pains fresh.
In the midst of all this, the rookie retained the confidence his coach helped him build through multiple practices and conversations.
“Before the start of the season, Coach Tim always tells me if I’m open I should take it. Sometimes in practice, he gets mad at me when I don’t shoot,” said the rookie. “He really pushed me to work on my 3-point shots and stretch the defense. Sometimes after practice, he even bounces for me because that’s the role he wants for me.”
Part of what gives Tolentino confidence was believing in the work he did during the seven months he was away from his peers.
“During the lockdown, I took it as extra time to get ready. I told myself that when the season comes around, I need to be more ready than the last time Coach Tim saw me,” Tolentino said.
Fortunately for the older man, he had a good role model from whom he turned to his brother-in-law, Doug Kramer during those moments.
“Every day, I was training with Kuya Doug,” he said. “He was giving me advice on how to be stronger, how to prepare for the games, how to study the players I will defend. He explained to me how important it is to learn about the tendencies of my opponents.”
After playing limited minutes against Rain or Shine in the quarterfinals, little did Arvin know that he would get a much bigger role in the semifinals.
“We were on the bus after our last practice before the semi-finals. Coach Tim told me to be ready because he was going to start. I mentally prepared myself because the coach always tells us how crucial Game One is,” Tolentino said. “Some people say that Coach Tim doesn’t really play his rookies during the playoffs, but I still have to be ready. If he needs me, I have to be ready.”
With Geneva one season away in the Finals, Tolentino could be the favorite to win the Rookie Year of the Year award. However, this is not something you are focusing on.
“I’m not thinking about it. I read and listen to it, but I don’t want to focus on it,” he said. “I want to play in the Finals and help my team win a championship. Individual awards are not a priority. If I can help the team win, individual awards will be an advantage.”
