'In-pain' Tolentino huge loss for ousted Batang Pier

MANILA, Philippines -- In a must-win match, NorthPort Batang Pier’s Arvin Tolentino did not suit up against the Barangay Ginebra San Miguel.

Tolentino, the best-scoring local in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup, was in street clothes in the do-or-die clash with his former team Friday night.

Without the 22.4-points-per-game performer, the Batang Pier fell to the Gin Kings, 106-93, kissing their semifinals bid goodbye.

Asked about his absence, Tolentino said he was sidelined due to patellofemoral pain.

According to the Mayo Clinic, the condition called “runner’s knee” is a pain at the front of the knee, around the kneecap.

“Our last game against Ginebra, honestly the whole conference, I was feeling it. Even in the Asian Games, I was already feeling it,” Tolentino told reporters after the game.

“But in our last game, the pain was not stopping. It was 10 out of 10. And when we went to the doctor, that was the finding,” he added.

In NorthPort’s last elimination game against Ginebra, which the team lost 103-93, Tolentino top scored with 27 points, six rebounds, four steals and an assist in 35 minutes off the bench.

“Good news is, the structure is okay. So, we have to stick to rehab. No need for a surgery,” the sweet-shooting forward said.

He bared that if the game went to a rubber match, he would have been able to play.

“I am happy that I am part of the top players, performers of this conference, but we lost today and we did not reach the semis, so it’s all worthless,” Tolentino said.

The 6-foot-4 forward is currently third in the Best Player of the Conference race with 35.1 statistical points (SPs) with his average of 22.4 points and 5.7 rebounds.

He is behind Ginebra’s Christian Standhardinger, who is leading with an averaging of 38.0 SPS.

San Miguel Beermen’s CJ Perez is second with 35.2 SPs.