LA Tenorio further cemented his place as one of the PBA’s best marksmen after moving up on the league’s all-time three-pointers made list, Wednesday night.
The decorated playmaker has surpassed all-time great Ronnie Magsanoc at the fourth spot after nailing a total of four triples in Barangay Ginebra’s Game One win over NorthPort in the 2022-23 PBA Commissioner’s Cup quarterfinals.
He achieved the feat after drilling his second trey of the game at the 5:25-mark of the second period. But the PBA’s Iron Man didn’t stop there, making a couple more more later on the way to registering 1,174 career three-balls.
“Thankful ako na nagkaroon ako ng milestone na ganon,” expressed Tenorio moments after the 118-102 victory at the Philsports Arena in Pasig.
“Thankful also sa mga teammates ko because they’re really looking for me, and they were really excited also na ma-surpass ko ‘yung milestone na ‘yun.“
Tenorio admitted he could not believe at first that he belongs to such an elite group, for he doesn’t consider himself as a legit shooter as compared to others in the list currently topped by 2012 MVP Jimmy Alapag with 1,250 to his name.
“I was really surprised because ‘yun nga, ‘di naman talaga ako three-point shooter e. I mean, ‘di ba? Honestly. If that’s like an assist milestone, probably steals, I would understand,” he said. “But, three-point shot?
“Andun ‘yung Jimmy Alapag, nandun ‘yung Allan Caidic, James Yap, nandun ‘yung Ronnie Magsanoc. Tapos down the line, there’s Dondon, there’s Marcio, meron pang mga Arwind Santos ‘yan na really three-point shooters.”
Tenorio is actually on pace as well to get to the third spot, which is presently occupied by two-time MVP James Yap with 1,178.
The seven-time champion is just five three-pointers away from reaching that point, which he could accomplish during this playoffs — or perhaps in Game Two of their best-of-three series with the Batang Pier this Saturday.
Tenorio didn’t hide his desire of dislodging the Yap, whose return to action remains in question as he’s also fulfilling his councilor duties in San Juan.
“Yes. Sayang naman, ‘di ba? Andun na,” the 16-year veteran said. “I think five more, ‘di ba, to surpass James. Again, it’s a big thing, sobra, to surpass a legend, and a real three-point shooter like James Yap.
“Malaking bagay ‘yun also for my career, you know. ‘Yun lang naman ‘yung legacy na iiwan natin, ‘di ba, ‘yung mga ganyang milestone especially a point ng career ko ngayon,” the four-time Finals MVP added.
Tenorio was quick to add, though, that he isn’t going to forcibly achieve the milestone, as he remains locked in on helping his team first and foremost.
“Hindi ko naman siya pipiliting kunin. I’m still gonna play the way I have to play for the team, especially this playoffs. Hindi ko namang pipilitin na mag-three points ng mag-three points. Nandyan lang ‘yan, darating naman ‘yan.
“Kung ibibigay, ibibigay. Ganun lang naman talaga e,” he said. “Hindi ko nga rin napansin na nasa Top Five na pala ako, nabanggit lang sa akin thanks to Sir Fidel (Fidel Mangonon III, PBA stats chief).”
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