Whenever fans see him on the court, Arvin Tolentino wears his game face on while scoring in bunches.
But while Tolentino is all business as he whips out his explosive performances, he showed his jovial side as he chatted with One Sports and shared some of his fun Christmas stories through the years.
The freshly crowned Player of the Game in NorthPort's strong bounce-back win against Eastern Friday, Dec. 20, turned candid in this conversation below:
[RELATED STORY: Arvin Tolentino flawless with no turnover in NorthPort's quick recovery vs Eastern]
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One Sports: What's your favorite Christmas song?
Arvin Tolentino: Sa May Bahay
OS: Can you sing a part of the song?
Arvin: Kailangan magbigay ka ng [aguinaldo], ah. (Proceeds to sing while clapping)
OS: What's your favorite Christmas tradition?
Arvin: Siyempre, 'yung pupunta sa ninong at ninang mo, bibigyan ka ng pamasko. 'Yun ang favorite ko!
OS: What is the biggest amount you got as gift?
Arvin: Magkano ba? 'Di ko alam sa nanay ko. Deretso sa kaniya lahat, eh. (laughs) Siyempre, 'pag bata ka, deretso [sa nanay].
OS: Have you experienced caroling as a child?
Arvin: Oo naman. 'Yung mga tansan, pinipitpit ko tapos bubutasan namin sa gitna ng alambre (to be used as tambourine). Tapos 'yung bote, lalagyan mo ng bato (as maracas). 'Yan 'yung pang-caroling namin.
OS: What's your most memorable caroling experience?
Arvin: Mayroon one time, nangangaroling kami, eh, parang ang tagal na naming kumakanta. So nilalakasan namin 'yung [pagkanta] — maloko rin kami ng pinsan ko, eh — as in sobrang lakas. Nainis 'yung... matanda pala ang nakatira doon. Binuhusan kami ng tubig. (laughs) Tumakbo na lang kami. Siguro mga walo o siyam na taong gulang ako noon. Malikot ako noong bata ako, eh.
OS: Have you completed the nine days of Simbang Gabi? If yes, what did you wish for?
Arvin: Hindi pa yata. Madaling araw 'yun, eh. Dapat simbang umaga 'yun, eh.
OS: Who are you with when you attend Simbang Gabi?
Arvin: 'Yung dati, mga barkada ko. Nagsisimba kami. Minsan, kasama ko 'yung parents ko. 'Yung nanay ko mahilig magsimba at saka mga tita ko.
OS: Is it not just "Simbang Tabi" where you just try to attract your crush's attention?
Arvin: Minsan. (laughs) Pero puno 'yung tao sa Angono, eh, doon sa'min kapag Simbang Gabi.
[ALSO READ: Arvin Tolentino's 2nd career triple-double propels NorthPort to 2-0 start]
OS: What's your favorite Christmas dish?
Arvin: Mahiig ako sa hamonado. Siyempre, lechon ang no. 1.
OS: What made these your favorites?
Arvin: Eh, 'yan kasi ang laging handa sa'min. Siyempre, 'yun ang kakainin ko. (laughs)
OS: What's your favorite Christmas-themed movie?
Arvin: Parang wala, eh. Wala kaming cable noong bata ako. Hindi rin ako mahilig manood ng mga movies dati.
OS: Have you started a new Christmas tradition with your wife and kids?
Arvin: Siyempre, nag-iba na 'yung Pasko ko kasi may family na ako. Well, usually, for the past few years, kasama namin lagi 'yung family ko, of course, and then 'yung family ng wife ko. Nagsi-celebrate ang family ko, 24 ng gabi, salubong, Christmas eve. 'Yung family ng wife ko, sa 25. So, puwedeng both. Nakakasama naming pareho.
OS: Complete the sentence: On the first day of Christmas my true love sent to me: ______
Arvin: 'Yung kanta o kahit ano? Secret. (laughs)
OS: Puto bumbong o bibingka?
Arvin: Puto bumbong. Mahilig ako sa latik, eh. Puto bumbong na lalagyan ng niyog saka minsan hinahaluan ko ng powdered milk. Try ninyo. Ang sarap! 'Pag sumakit ang tiyan ninyo, sorry, ha.
OS: Jose Mari Chan or Mariah Carey?
Arvin: Kay idol Jose Mari Chan. September pa lang naririnig ko na, eh.
OS: Sing an excerpt of the song.
Arvin: (Proceeds to sing again) Namamaos na ako, eh! (laughs) Tapos patawad lang. Ang sakit noon!
OS: Did you believe in Santa Claus when you were a kid?
Arvin: Oo. Lahat naman siguro tayo, eh. Kasi dati, kaming magkakapatid, nagsasabit kami ng medyas. 'Yung medyas lang namin. Tapos pagdating sa umaga biglang may laman. 'Yung dalawang ate ko noon, lagi nilang nakukuha 'yung gift nila. Sa’kin, sampung piso lang lagi. Naubos na 'yung budget. (laughs). Hindi naman kami ganoon ka-blessed sa kayamanan, okey na rin. Sampung piso, malaking bagay na rin. Pang video [game] ko na 'yun, eh.
OS: What's important is your family is complete.
Arvin: Oo naman. 'Yun 'yung No. 1 talaga. 'Yun ang hindi mawawala sa'min, dapat magkakasama. Simula bata ako.
NorthPort's Arvin Tolentino goes against Calvin Abueva of Magnolia in their PBA Season 49 Commissioner's Cup match last Dec. 4. | Photo (c) RM Chua/One Sports
OS: If Santa will visit you on Christmas and ask you if you have been a good or naughty boy this year, what would be your answer?
Arvin: Good boy! Good boy ako. (laughs) Good boy sa lahat, siyempre.
OS: What's the gift that you want to receive this Christmas?
Arvin: Honestly, wala akong ano, eh. Kahit 'yung wife ko, nagtataka lagi. Hindi ako maregalo. 'Pag tinanong ako kung anong gusto kong regalo, 'Hindi ko alam' ang sinasabi ko. Hindi rin naman ako masiyadong mabigay sa regalo. Siguro, nakasanayan ko na. Kasi, siyempre, dati wala namang pambili ng regalo. So ano na lang: Kumpletong pamilya, healthy at masayang celebration. 'Yun lang, ok na ako dun.
OS: You don't give gifts to your teammates?
Arvin: Hindi.
OS: If you will give a gift to one of your teammates, who would he be and what would you give him?
Arvin: Ano na lang, siyempre, lahat. Hindi naman puwedeng mamili ka lang ng isa at baka magselos 'yung iba. (laughs) Cookies na lang siguro. Siyempre, may mga family din sila. Alam ko namang hindi sila kumakain. Ibibigay na lang nila sa mga anak nila.
OS: Will you be the one to bake those?
Arvin: Hindi ako marunong, eh. (laughs)
OS: What's your Christmas wish?
Arvin: Siguro, championship na lang. As of now, no. 1 kami. Sana magtuluy-tuloy.