LA Tenorio was hands down the hero of the Finals’ Game Two on Sunday night. He struck the killing dagger — a three-pointer with shot clock winding down — right into the Meralco Bolts’ hearts, to pave the way for an 86-76 victory.
“It was a Hail Mary shot. Timing. Kasi the whole game medyo off timing ako dun sa offense eh,” said Tenorio, who finished with 14 points, of that shot. “Siguro timing lang talaga. For me that was a Hail Mary shot. Nakuha sa dasal.”
“It’s an amazing shot and that was the thing that turned the whole game around right there,” lauded head coach Tim Cone, “It was anybody’s game until he hit that shot… That was the biggest shot of the game.
“Really the biggest shot.”
Those kind of end-game heroics are nothing new to the Barangay and to the 33-year-old. But this time, though, it was a little bit different — he pulled off the saving grace all the while his right elbow was hurt.
“He’s playing with a bum elbow too,” admitted the multi-titled mentor. “He’s gonna have a surgery on his elbow at the end of the conference, [in] his shooting elbow. But he’s playing through it and still shooting the ball well.”
Tenorio could actually opt to have surgery on his hurt elbow, but he prefers not to, especially at this stage of the tournament.
“Kaya ayoko magpa-opera eh, kasi nakaka-shoot ako,” said Tenorio with a chuckle. “Yun yung dilemma ko. Totoo yun. Nakaka-shoot ako ngayon eh… Tsaka sinasabi nila sa’kin ba’t ka papaano, ang taas ng percentage mo.
“So ngayon pinagbabayaran ko. ‘Pag natatamaan sobrang sakit talaga.”
Tenorio and the Barangay have plenty of reasons to be jubilant about Sunday night, especially now that they are up 2-0 in the series. However, the two-time champion was quick to remind that the series is still far from being done.
“Two-zero… to be honest that’s nothing,” said the 11-year veteran floor general, who is averaging 12 points and three assists this Finals. “Alam naman natin sa ligang ito, maraming miracle na nangyayari. We really have to come out stronger.
“The series is not yet over. [It’s] far, far, from over.”
