Gabe Norwood put Argentine basketball legend Luis Scola on a poster with a thunderous dunk during Gilas Pilipinas’ stint in the 2014 FIBA World Cup.
Nine years later, the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters veteran became part of another electrifying play similar to his almost decade-old masterpiece.
But there’s one big difference.
It happened on Sunday at the Ynares Sports Center in Antipolo, where the NorthPort BatangPier took down the Elasto Painters, 113-105, to get their second win in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup.
Norwood was on the receiving end of a disrespectful slam detonated by NorthPort star Arvin Tolentino.
After intercepting an errant pass, the 6-foot-5 forward sped toward the other end to convert the steal into two points. The lane seemed wide open for Tolentino until Norwood appeared out of nowhere to try and prevent an easy bucket. Well, it didn’t matter.
Norwood's real-time reaction was sublime. He appeared unaffected, oblivious and focused on the next play. In short, patay malisya.
But that wasn’t really the case. After the game, Tolentino revealed that he and Norwood had a friendly little chat about their aerial encounter.
“Nag-usap kami ni Gabe after no’n, tinanong ko siya kung plano niya talagang habulin kasi I was planning talaga to go hard. Siguro two years ago, mahahabol ni Gabe ‘yun. Suwerte na lang kasi nakuha ko,” Tolentino excitedly said in the postgame press conference.
“Siya (Norwood) nagsabi n’on, maybe two years ago (nahabol niya). Hindi ako,” he clarified while letting out a chuckle.
Tolentino was all smiles. Why wouldn’t he? He just dunked over a PBA legend. Oh, he dropped a career-high 35 points as well.
The Batang Pier will hope to get another big game from Tolentino as they take on the Magnolia Hotshots on Friday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
(PM)