Tolentino drops career-high 51 points as Batang Pier rout FiberXers

Arvin Tolentino scored a career-high 51 points, leading the NorthPort Batang Pier to a 135-109 victory over the Converge FiberXers in the PBA Governors' Cup.

His scoring output matches that of Asi Taulava in 2004, making him the first local player to achieve this feat in 20 years.

Tolentino's performance included 15-of-27 field goals, a perfect 16-of-16 from the free-throw line, and seven rebounds.

The Batang Pier improved their record to 2-1 in Group A, with coach Bonnie Tan describing the win as a "statement win."

Converge fell to a 2-2 slate, with import Scotty Hopson finishing with 24 points, 10 rebounds, and seven assists.

The FiberXers also lost Justin Arana to an apparent leg injury in the second half.

The "statement win" for the Batang Pier came after comments made by Converge assistant Danny Ildefonso regarding the team's status as a "farm team."