PBA: Tim Cone says Arvin Tolentino plays like Arwind Santos

Barangay Ginebra San Miguel head coach Tim Cone said he sees some similarities in the way rookie Arvin Tolentino and San Miguel Beermen veteran Arwind Santos play.

Cone made the statement via an online report, stating that Tolentino, who Ginebra selected as their 10th overall pick in the 2019 PBA Draft, has a style of play that resembles that of Santos’.

“I just think that he is uber talented. He has tremendous talent. He’s just trying to figure out how to use it in the concept of a team and how to use it consistently all the time. But he plays a lot like Arwind Santos.”

Tolentino was one of the best high school players of his generation. He was a many-time youth national team player and was a highly-touted recruit.

He suited up for the Ateneo Blue Eagles first in college, before making a transfer to the FEU Tamaraws where he remolded his game a bit.

The winningest PBA head coach in history added that if Tolentino is able to develop a few other facets of his game, then he would definitely have what takes to be the next Santos of the league.

“If he ever develops that edge that kinda ‘I’ll take on all corners at all times’ that Arwind does, he could turn out to be another Arwind. He really could. He really has that kind of talent.”

It is an interesting statement to make for Cone, as Santos has been a thorn for his mentoring career since the 6-4 forward entered the league in the 2000s.

Cone has had many memorable battles coaching against Santos, particularly in the 2017 PBA Philippine Cup Finals where San Miguel beat Ginebra, 4-1.