LA TENORIO MAKES EVERY SECOND COUNT IN SURPRISE GAME 5 ACTION

FOR exactly six minutes, LA Tenorio made his first appearance in the PBA 49th Season Commissioner’s Cup count.

Tenorio was surprisingly pulled out of the bench by Ginebra coach Tim Cone in Game 5 of the best-of-seven championship series - his first game since the third match of the semifinal series against NorthPort.

READ Tenorio the least bit worried about slumping RJ Abarrientos

Regardless of when this title series will end, Tenorio will end up playing less than in Ginebra’s previous championship series appearance in 49th Season Governors’ Cup against TNT, where he saw action in four games.

Tenorio said he, too, was surprised to hear his name called in Game 5.

"Nagulat kayo no? Kahit ako nagulat eh," the concurrent Gilas Pilipinas Youth coach joked when interviewed by reporters.

PHOTO: PBA Images

"Gusto ko lang parati, ako ready lang naman ako. It’s a different role. Maybe next time, may chance. But I’m always ready," he added.

Tenorio’s last appearance in the finals was in Game 5 of the Governors’ Cup finals where he topscored with 13 points, most of which came in garbage time as TNT won handily, 99-72.

Game 5’s appearance wasn’t garbage time. Although he went scoreless, he was able to contribute one rebound, one assist, and, more importantly, brought stability that only a veteran player like him can provide.

'Really, really smart'

Cone explained the need for Tenorio to enter the game at the 1:49-mark of the third quarter.

"I just felt that we weren’t executing as well as we could," said Cone. "That’s one thing about LA, he is really, really smart with his execution. He knows how to get the team into execution and into spots, and knows who to get the ball to."

Aside from stability, Cone said Tenorio was deployed to give Scottie Thompson some rest, a ploy that paid off with Thompson coming out full of energy for the fourth quarter to help wrap up a 73-66 Ginebra victory.

"I felt we needed a break for Scottie at that point as well," said Cone.

Even though his player is now at the twilight of his career and even holds a coaching role with the national youth team, Cone said Tenorio remains one of the hardest workers in the team.

"LA is always ready. He works so hard in practice everyday. Even though he may not play, he is still working. He’s 40 years old, still working super hard in practice every day," Cone added.

2025-03-24T10:11:13Z