Arvin Tolentino wins first Best Player of the Conference award; RHJ gets third Best Import plum

Arvin Tolentino of the NorthPort Batang Pier won his first Best Player of the Conference Award.

Tolentino was announced as the best local player of the PBA Commissioner's Cup on Friday at the Ynares Center in Antipolo before Game 4 of the finals between TNT and Barangay Ginebra.

The NorthPort star accumulated 1072 points from stats and votes from the media and the players.

By the end of the semifinals, Tolentino had 36.3 average statistical points (SPs) on averages of 23.5 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 7.8 assists per game.

Tolentino led the Batang Pier to the top of the standings by the end of the elimination round with a 9-3 win-loss record. In the quarterfinals, the twice-to-beat NorthPort defeated Magnolia before falling to Barangay Ginebra, 4-1, in the best-of-seven semis.

Tolentino bested the likes of San Miguel's June Mar Fajardo, Converge's Jordan Heading, TNT's Calvin Oftana, and NLEX' Robert Bolick for the top award given to locals.

TNT's Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, meanwhile, bagged his third Best Import award.

He won his first two in the 2023 Governors' Cup and 2024 Governors' Cup. 

RHJ had 52.7 average SPs from 28.2 points, 12.4 rebounds, 5.0 assists, 1.9 steals, and 1.8 blocks per game by the end of the conference's semifinals.

RHJ, who had 1280 points from stats and votes from the media and players to top the Best Import race, edged NorthPort's Kadeem Jack, Barangay Ginebra's Justin Brownlee, and Rain or Shine's Deon Thompson for the title. 

—JKC, GMA Integrated News