An Incoming Gin King: Arvin Tolentino Inks a One-Year Deal with Ginebra

The Barangay Ginebra Gin Kings are still reeling from Greg Slaughter's announcement that he is taking an indefinite break from the game of basketball. While many were making speculations as to why GregZilla is taking a break from the team he helped win 4 PBA championships, one is clear as far as Greg Slaughter is concerned: he isn't aware of a trade and that, there isn't contract that was offered in the first place so the notion that he made demands is nonsense. That, at least according to Slaughter himself.

While Tim Cone has said that he isn't giving up just yet on Greg Slaughter, the Gin Kings have to move on from this controversial development and find the next guy who can fill the void. And fortunately, help is here for the crowd darlings. 

Ginebra fans, meet your newest Gin Kings: Arvin Tolentino. 

After being picked as the 10th pick in the regular draft of the 2019 PBA Rookie Draft last December, Arvin Tolentino is set to play for the Gin Kings starting in the upcoming Philippine Cup which opens on March 8. This is after Ginebra and Tolentino signed a one-year rookie contract. 

With Greg Slaughter gone indefinitely, the Gin Kings need another big guy and Tolentino may be just the guy Ginebra is looking for. Why?

For one,  he has played in multiple leagues since his high school days when he started as a San Beda Red Cub before briefly playing for Ateneo in the UAAP and finishing his collegiate career with the FEU Tamaraws. Prior to joining the draft, Tolentino also had stints in the MPBL and in the PBA D-League. In other words, his game has evolved which makes him one of the most-experienced rookies from his class. 

He can also play both forward positions- a capability that can help him earn a roster spot Ginebra will now have a big man who can shoot and make threes. Tolentino made 29 threes during his final season in the UAAP. 29 made threes in 12 games. That's 2 threes per game on the average and that's a lot for a big man of his size.

And with Slaughter out of the picture, for now, Tolentino's signing will add more dept to a Ginebra team who lost Jervy Cruz, Sol Mercado, and Kevin Ferrer to the Stanley Pringle trade.  And with the Ginebra core already at the near end of the career, Arvin Tolentino's arrival couldn't come at a better time. 

Photo is from Rappler