Even to this day, Barangay Ginebra coach Tim Cone admits letting go of Arvin Tolentino--now a leading BPC candidate for NorthPort--in 2022 still haunts him.
Back when Arvin Tolentino was still with Ginebra, head coach Tim Cone saw a glimpse of what the young player was capable of.
The PBA’s winningest coach even went as far as comparing Tolentino to one familiar player.
“When we had him [Arvin], I told him he was our local Justin [Brownlee]. I expected him to play like Justin, eventually, as he started to play his game,” Cone said in the post-game press conference of Ginebra’s quarterfinal series win against the Meralco Bolts.
Drafted 10th overall in the 2019 PBA Draft, Tolentino won two titles wearing a Ginebra uniform, including one with Brownlee in the 2021 Governors’ Cup.
Cone added that Tolentino mirrored the resident Barangay Ginebra import’s game early on, developing his belief that the 6-foot-5 forward is capable of doing more.
“Because he had a great mid-range game, he had a great three-point shot, he can post up, he can put the ball on the floor and get to the rim, he can create contact and get fouls.” the two-time Grand Slam coach bared.
However, Cone made the difficult decision to trade Tolentino in 2022--a choice which still haunts him to this day.
“I’m real proud of him and what he’s been able to achieve. And do I regret it? I certainly do. I certainly do regret it."
[ALSO READ: Arvin Tolentino as next face of NorthPort? Coach Bonnie Tan responds]
However, the Gilas Pilipinas coach noted that the move was the "best thing to ever happen for Tolentino and his career" while also looking back on the advice he gave to the two-time All-Star on his move to NorthPort.
“You know, when he [Arvin] was traded, I said this is going to be an opportunity for you to really go out and spread your wings, stretch your game,” the 69-year-old mentor said.
The former FEU Tamaraw did more than just what his former coach told him.
Tolentino emerged as a bonafide superstar at NorthPort since then, and this ongoing Season 49 Commissioner’s Cup proved that case convincingly.
He led the Batang Pier to wrest the no. 1 seed heading to the playoffs for the first time in franchise history, and went on to end the Batang Pier’s six-year semifinal drought after sending the Magnolia Hotshots packing in the quarterfinals.
[ALSO READ: William Navarro steps up as NorthPort marches on to PBA Commissioner's Cup semis]
Tolentino is also the Best Player of Conference (BPC) frontrunner after averaging 23.2 points, 7.2 rebounds, 3.9 assists through the quarters.
[ALSO READ: PBA: Winning Best Player of the Conference award far from Arvin Tolentino’s mind]
“Arvin’s [Tolentino] my boy,” said Cone.
Now, Tolentino and the Batang Pier are hungry to flip the script against Ginebra when the two squads collide in a best-of-seven semifinal series that begins on Wednesday, February 26.
“Exciting. Syempre playing against Ginebra mga kumpare ko na rin mga players dun. It’s always fun and exciting time for me going up against them kasi may pinagsamahan din kami,” the 29-year-old said on playing against his former team in the semifinals.
[ALSO READ: PBA: Tim Cone lauds Ginebra’s semifinal foe NorthPort--'That’s a real team']