NorthPort Batang Pier star Arvin Tolentino won his first Best Player of the Conference award in the PBA Season 49 Commissioner's Cup.
Arvin Tolentino was enjoying the pristine beach of Boracay when he received an unexpected call from someone important.
It was from PBA Commissioner Willie Marcial.
Marcial told Tolentino he just won the Best Player of the Conference award.
With the good news, Tolentino immediately booked a flight to return to Manila and then received his first BPC plum before Game 4 of the PBA Season 49 Commissioner’s Cup Finals on Friday, March 21.
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“Masaya. First (BPC ko to) so di ko actually, di ko alam sasabihin ko,” said Tolentino after receiving the award at the Ynares Center in Antipolo.
Tolentino was at the forefront of NorthPort’s resurgence in the mid-season conference.
Under his leadership, the Batang Pier climbed to the top of the standings at the end of the elimination round, beating perennial contenders Ginebra and San Miguel.
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NorthPort then disposed of Magnolia in the quarterfinals, before faltering against a more experienced Gin Kings in the semifinals.
After his team’s milestones this conference, Tolentino still didn’t expect to win the award. This nonetheless legitimizes the five-year winger as one of the league’s stars.
“It’s surreal feeling na, like you said very early, I’ve been in the league five years, then nakakuha na ako ng isa sa pinakamataas na award. Yun yung parang testament lang also na kung pano ko trabahuhin everyday, to be one of the best,” he said.
“Actually like I said before mataas ako mangarap e. I really want to be the best, to be the best kailangan ikaw pinaka hardworking. You also have to beat the best.”
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