SMART CLARK GIGA CITY – LA Tenorio sang high praises for Roger Pogoy, believing that the four-year pro could be a superstar in the PBA with the way he’s been delivering in the 2020 PBA Philippine Cup Finals.
“He’s gonna be the next superstar for sure ng PBA,” offered the 36-year-old in a chat with Tiebreaker Times, Monday.
Tenorio himself was able to test the mettle of the 28-year-old in Game Four Sunday night when they engaged in an epic shootout down the stretch that left those inside the AUF Sports and Cultural Center in total awe.
Pogoy spearheaded TNT’s rally from 18 down in the final frame, and his twin set of three-pointers chopped the gap to just three, 85-88, with less than three minutes remaining. But, Tenorio responded with a trey of his own later.
The 6-foot-2 gunslinger made yet another triple as a quick reply, but the decorated floor general fired back to extend the gap once more. And that shot sparked a 7-0 run for the Gin Kings en route to the 98-88 win.
The loss surely stings hard for Pogoy as it wasted his 34-point outing. But he definitely proved yet again how valuable he is for the flagship MVP Group franchise not just in this titular bout, but moving forward.
Sunday night actually marked the second time this Finals that he finished beyond 30 points. He had 38 back in Game Two, although it also ended up in a loss. He’s now averaging 27.5 points in the series after Game Four.
“Parati kong sinasabi sa kanya na sobrang galing niya itong series na ‘to,” Tenorio shared.
“Parati ko sinasabi sa kanya yun.”
But more than his gunslinging ways that even made no less than Ginebra head coach Tim Cone liken him to the great Allan Caidic, the decorated floor general is also impressed with Pogoy’s ability to defend.
“For me, he’s the best two-way player now in the PBA now,” he said.
“He can defend, and he can play in the offense.”
Resounding, indeed, were those praises for the former Far Eastern University product. But Tenorio doesn’t just see Pogoy as one of the faces of Asia’s pioneering pro league in the near future.
“Siguro kailangan masama siya sa listahan ng future ng Philippine basketball,” the former Gilas Pilipinas leader said.
