NorthPort forward Arvin Tolentino during a game against Terrafirma.–PBA IMAGES
How much traction the offer for Alvin Tolentino to play overseas is gaining was palpable Friday evening, when the 6-foot-5 forward was chatting with reporters at the end of another PBA doubleheader.
“Congrats! KBL!” a fan greeted while passing by the scrum at about the same time Tolentino confirmed reports that he’s received a formal offer from a foreign ball club.
The rumors surfaced after Tolentino’s contract with the Batang Pier expired last April 30, and even after management extended the deal to until the end of the season-concluding Philippine Cup.
And all signs are pointing to Tolentino accepting the offer to play in the Korean Basketball League, where the likes of Gilas Pilipinas mainstay Carl Tamayo and Juan Gomez de Liano are also seeing action .
“I’m looking at everything, to be honest,” Tolentino said after NorthPort’s heartbreaking 105-104 loss to Meralco at Philsports Arena in Pasig City. “It’s very rare to have this kind of opportunity. At the same time, there’s also an offer to stay in the PBA.”
Tolentino said he is weighing his options, carefully measuring what has been reported as a rich deal against the comforts of staying home.
It was at NorthPort where Tolentino blossomed into a star after he joined the franchise in a deal that sent Jamie Malonzo to Barangay Ginebra. His scoring sprees and all-around performances were the ones that opened the door for him to get noticed beyond the Philippine archipelago.
“I can’t really say [what my decision is] because it will still depend on what will happen in the future,” said Tolentino.
For now, Tolentino’s concern is his health as he sat out for the second straight time due to a hip flexor injury. His absence is proving crucial for Northport, which lost what looked like a won game after the Bolts prevailed on Bong Quinto’s eventual winner with less than three seconds left.
NorthPort led 104-99 with 23 seconds as Jio Jalalon and Sidney Onwubere muffed four free throws down the stretch.
The Batang Pier dropped to 1-4 as the Bolts snapped a three-game skid to go 3-3 going into their matchup with the TNT Tropang 5G on Sunday at Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
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The TNT-Meralco battle is at 7:30 p.m. while the 5 p.m. opener pits San Miguel Beer and Phoenix.
