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SMART CLARK GIGA CITY – Arvin Tolentino posted a career-best performance in the first PBA semifinal game of his career.
Barangay Geneva will need more of that from the big rookie if it wants to make it to the Philippine Cup championship.
With dependable striker Jeff Chan on the list of day-to-day cases in his semi-final series against the Meralco Bolts, coach Tim Cone hopes Tolentino will improve as he did in the team’s 96-79 win in Game 1 of the best of five series.
The Kings’ first-round pick in last year’s draft had 13 points and five rebounds in the first game of the semifinals, highlighted by a 3-for-6 shooting from three-point range.
Cone was impressed, but emphasized that the rookie now has to do it consistently with the Kings with one less man following the 37-year-old Chan’s hamstring injury.
“He played the way we expected. We believe he has an exciting future ahead of him, but that future must be now, especially with Jeff injured, ”Cone said Thursday.
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Tolentino averaged just 4.5 points and 2.2 rebounds in all games during the eliminations.
But finally, given the chance, the former Far Eastern University star showed exactly what he could do with his skillful shots – rare for a 6-foot-5-inch Filipino player.
“Arvin I think he really played well opening the floor for us, he made some key plays,” Cone noted.
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Now that he has somehow been able to earn Cone’s trust, much more is needed of him as the Kings look to return to the Filipino finals after three years.
“He is a boy of great character who is seizing his opportunity,” said the 62-year-old mentor. “We hope to get even more out of him as the playoffs progress.”
