UAAP: Is Arvin Tolentino the next big thing?

Expectations. If you’re only 17-years-old but already standing 6’5” in the Philippines, you’re expected to play basketball. It has been the way of many in the past, though it has not always translated to excellence on the hardwood. In the case of Arvin Tolentino, he met all expectations in high school, leading the San Beda Red Cubs to multiple championships.

For decades now, the San Beda program has consistently produced basketball superstars at both the collegiate and professional level. Tolentino now stands on the precipice of adding his own name to the greats of yesteryear. Watching him play center and power forward at the Seaoil National Basketball Training Center (NBTC) All-Star Game, we see glimpses of the player he might become. It’s an exciting sight to be sure, as many feel that he hasn’t even scratched the surface of his basketball potential.

King of the Cubs

As a Red Cub, Tolentino was an unstoppable force, especially in the paint, as his team won titles in every year that he played for them. “Sa San Beda, kilala kami for run-and-gun,” he shares. “Tsaka medyo di kami na-a-argabyado eh. Di gaya dito, medyo nag-a-adjust pa ako.”

The memories of the #3x3U18 in Jakarta... Happy birthday @arvintolentino5!!! pic.twitter.com/fGowQ3MoG1

— 3x3planet (@3x3planet) November 5, 2013

Owing to his earning NCAA Finals MVP honors in his last high school season, and teaming with Thirdy Ravena, Kobe Paras, and Prince Rivero at the FIBA Under-18 3-on-3 Championships, Tolentino became highly recruited by several basketball powers. Eventually though, he and his family made the decision to join the rebuilding Ateneo Blue Eagles for the coming UAAP season.

Moving to Katipunan

“Ang family ko, hindi lang sa offer tumitingin,” Tolentino says. “Doon talaga sa future kami nakatutok. Eh nakita namin na mas maganda yung future ko sa Ateneo. Pero nagpapasalamat rin ako sobra sa San Beda.“

And I'm officially a Blue Eagle! New TEAM, new SCHOOL, new HOME. Definitely a new LIFE for me. See you all in blue! #OneBigFight!!

— Arvin Tolentino (@arvintolentino5) January 18, 2014

Under his Red Cubs coaches, Tolentino’s game is grounded in basketball fundamentals. He now takes on the challenge of learning a new system, at a new campus in Loyola Heights. Ateneo coach Bo Perasol came under all sorts of fire in his first season as Blue Eagles tactician, after inheriting the mantle from five-time UAAP champion coach Norman Black. The pressure now rises even higher for Perasol and recruits like Tolentino, as the Hail Mary Squad aims for at the very least a berth in the UAAP Final Four.

With fellow Seaoil NBTC All-Stars Ravena from Ateneo de Manila High School, John Apacible from Hope Christian High School, and Isaac Go from Xavier School all joining Tolentino in donning Blue and White this coming July, it’s easy to see why Ateneo alumni and fans are frothing at the mouth. “Masaya akong magkakasama kami dito at mukhang maganda ang future naming mga bata,” Tolentino notes. “Ang dami naming rookies na siguro in one-two years, sobrang in na kaming lahat. Pinagdarasal lang namin na maging healthy ang lahat ng players.”

Prepping for the next level

A dominant run by his squad in the NCAA served Tolentino well, but he knows things will likely be different when he enters the bright lights of UAAP seniors division basketball. “Sa ngayon, nangangapa pa eh,” he says of finding his role in Perasol’s system. “Di naman ako masyadong nahihirapan. Flexible naman ako sa anumang challenge na mapunta sa akin.”

As for the inevitable banging and physical play that every rookie faces when they enter the league, he’s been readying himself for it. With physical big men such as University of the East’s Charles Mammie, De La Salle’s Jason Perkins, and University of Santo Tomas’ Karim Abdul banging down low, rookies like Tolentino can be forgiven if they’re intimidated. “Actually last year pa lang tinitingnan ko na kung paano sa college eh,” he says. “Siguro ready na. Ready na ako. Kakayanin natin.”

Of course, part of the college basketball experience is the bigger crowds in the bigger venues. Choosing Ateneo also means automatically joining one half of Philippine basketball’s greatest rivalry, the Ateneo-La Salle games. Instead of shrinking, however, Tolentino seems to relish the challenge as he states, “Isa yan sa kina-e-excite ko tungkol sa paglaro sa Ateneo eh. Yung crowd. Sana matuwa sila sa akin.”

High school All-Star

On a warm March afternoon, as Tolentino joins the SEAOil Extreme Team in a 123-94 rout of the SEAOil Light Team at the Ynares Center in Pasig, he’s not looking to dominate just yet. Eager to join the 29 other fourth year high school standouts in putting on a show, Tolentino pulls up for a few three-point jumpshots to no avail, as he doesn’t display the full range of low post moves that made him such a blue chip recruit in the first place.

[Related: Thirdy Ravena named MVP after leading Team Extreme to win in NBTC All-Star Game]

“Actually kahapon tumira talaga ako ng more than 200 shots kaya lang dito sa game na ‘to, medyo minalas,” he laments with a shy grin. He still finished with eight points as present and future teammate Thirdy Ravena earns the game’s MVP honors. It’s all good for Tolentino though as his team still won. When your future is as bright as his looks to be, you don’t need to stress right now. After all, the best is yet to come. - AMD, GMA News