Amid the Ginebra vs. TNT showdown, an age-old debate resurfaces—should we reward players who didn’t make the finals?
Kadeem Jack is likely the third-best import of the tournament, but the real conversation centers around his Northport teammate, Arvin Tolentino, who is poised to become the Best Player of the Conference (BPC). Historically, the league has recognized semifinalists for individual accolades—Mark Caguioa, after all, remains the only PBA MVP who never reached the finals in his award-winning season. However, there’s a twist. Tolentino played a huge role—arguably 60%—in why Northport fell short against Ginebra. That’s a big percentage to pin on a local in an import-laden conference, but the numbers back it up.
In Northport’s lone win, Tolentino delivered 20 points, 9 rebounds, and 11 assists. But in their four losses? His production dipped to just 11 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 2.0 assists per game. The near-triple-double potential was there, but consistency wasn’t.
Still, Tolentino deserves to be the frontrunner because he carried a mid-tier team with only Kadeem Jack and a bunch of hyperactive, overachieving locals. Unlike TNT and Ginebra, who had Rondae Hollis-Jefferson and Justin Brownlee, respectively, Northport didn’t have the same bench depth. He also finished as the second-best player after the eliminations—trailing only June Mar Fajardo, whose monster efforts were wasted by San Miguel’s unfortunate import situation, leading to their first playoff miss since 2015.
Robert Bolick could have been a contender too, but NLEX was eliminated in the final playoff push by Magnolia. Meanwhile, Calvin Oftana has been mentioned as a dark horse, but if we’re talking impact, Scottie Thompson deserves a look. The former MVP ranked among the top 10 in the eliminations and has been a workhorse for Gilas Pilipinas. In the first three finals games, he averaged 16.0 points, 11.0 rebounds, and 6.3 assists—numbers that strengthen his case. However, in the grand scheme, Thompson remains just one piece of Ginebra’s well-oiled machine.
Despite Northport’s semifinal exit, Tolentino remains the strongest candidate for BPC. Leading his team to the top of the eliminations was no small feat—especially considering Northport’s reputation as a team often seen as a stepping stone for players bound for SMC squads. Three semifinal appearances in 12 seasons aren’t exactly a strong foundation, which is why this BPC award could mean something bigger for Tolentino. It’s a rare moment where Northport rises above expectations.
Call it recency bias, but for one conference in five years, they found a way to stay relevant. If Tolentino wins, maybe it’s a sign of something more.