ARVIN Tolentino underscored the huge role his Northport teammates play in making him the strong bet to win the Best Player of the Conference award of the PBA Commissioner's Cup.
He said his success is the success of the team, and that can't be possible without the collective effort of the entire Batang Pier.
Entering the semifinals where Northport emerged as the no. 1 seeded team, the 29-year-old forward totaled 39.9 statistical points for a strong second behind San Miguel's June Mar Fajardo (42.0sps) in the race for the BPC plum.
But his bid for a first ever BPC title was all the more boosted by the failure of Fajardo and the Beermen to advance in the playoffs of the mid-season tournament.
"Magandang recognition yun for me, pero deserved din ng temmates ko yun," he said. "If I can share it with them pieces of that award if ever I win it."
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The ouster of San Miguel meant Fajardo, an 11-time BPC winner, won't be eligible to become an official candidate for the award since only players who made the semifinals are considered contenders.
It's the same as in the case of NLEX's Robert Bolick, who is running third with 37.1sps. Like the Beermen, the Road Warriors also failed to advance to the playoffs.
Out of the players in the Top 5, only TNT's Calvin Oftana is expected to crowd out Tolentino for the award as he's currently ranked at no. 4 with 32.7sps.
And out of the Top 10, the only ones still in contention are Tolentino's Northport teammate Joshua Munzon (31.9sps), and the Barangay Ginebra duo of Scottie Thompson (29.5sps) and Troy Rosario (28.0sps).
"If ever I win (it), everyone in my team deserves that," said Tolentino, pertaining to the entire Northport franchise.
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At the moment, winning a first BPC plum doesn't occupy the minds of Tolentino.
"But I'm really focused on winning and getting to the finals," he said of the immediate goal right now.
The top seeded Batang Pier will meet third seed Barangay Ginebra Kings in the best-of-seven semis that kicks off on Wednesday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. (RG)
