ANTIPOLO, Philippines — On the first anniversary of his first 30-point game in the PBA in the same venue, Arvin Tolentino exploded for a new career high of 35 points.
That import-esque number from Tolentino spiked by five triples set the tone as NorthPort dumped Rain or Shine, 113-103, for a hot 2-0 start in the PBA Season 48 Commissioner’s Cup yesterday at the Ynares Center here.
Tolentino, who also had nine rebounds, three assists and four steals, fired nine in the third and helped the Batang Pier to a 19-point lead at one point then banged in 12 in the fourth quarter to quell the Elasto Painters’ late uprising.
The 6-5 forward capped his heroics with a steal off Dajuan Summers and a subsequent transition slam over ROS veteran Gabe Norwood that gave NorthPort a 107-99 breathing room after seeing their lead trimmed to only four.
Tolentino was surprised to learn he reset his scoring best on the exact day last year and the very place where he previously shot 31 in a 91-85 comeback win over Terrafirma in the Commissioner’s Cup.
Later, Magnolia also made it two in a row via a 107-92 drubbing of Phoenix (1-1). The Hotshots used a 56-31 salvo in the second to break away after a tied first half for a followup to their 110-102 verdict over TNT a week ago.