The PBA will be having its new Iron Man soon.
In the Barangay Ginebra San Miguel’s Philippine Cup clash with the league-leading Phoenix Pulse Fuel Masters Sunday night, LA Tenorio has tied the legendary Alvin Patrimonio with the most number of games played at 596.
“It’s a great achievement not only as a basketball player but also as an athlete,” said Tenorio after their 100-97 win.
“Malaking achievement ‘to kasi lahat ng pinaghirapan ko throughout my career, not only in the PBA, but also in high school, college, pinaghandaan ko para maging professional athlete,” furthered the 13-year league veteran.
“All the hard work, the discipline, all the sacrifices nagbubunga.”
Tenorio has yet to miss a PBA game since he entered the league in 2006. But the 34-year-old bared that he hasn’t actually missed a game since his UAA days with the Ateneo Blue Eagles — he’s been playing for 17 years now.
“The last time I remember na namiss kong game is when I was in the UAAP 2002 when I got injured with a fractured hand. I went back to the Final Four, twice to win kami against UE. That was the last time na naalala ko nagpahinga ako.
“Practice, games, yun yung naaalala ko. Wala na akong naaalala. PBL, I played for Harbour, a lot of teams, I don’t remember missing games,” the decorated point guard recalled. “Sa national team, I don’t remember missing practice or games.”
“Except kung may guesting or something really important.”
Tenorio bared that there had actually been a point in his career that he almost missed a game as his wife Chesca had been about to give birth to their second child then. But he decided to still push through and play the game.
“The closest is really yung pinapanganak pangalawa kong anak. Cuneta yung game na yun. Nanganak yung wife ko, good thing it’s in Makati med so on the way. I think ako na yung nagdesisyon, hindi yung wife ko na i-ceasarian,” he recalled.
“So pabiyak na natin ng two o’ clock yan para humabol ako. natapos siya ng 3, hinatid ko lang, I checked my son, hinatid ko sa nursery room then, di ko na ata nacheck yung wife ko sa recovery room. tumakbo na ko ng game,” he chuckled.
“Yun yung closest. Late ako sa call time ng mga 30 minutes. But I still played in cuneta and won the game. Alaska kalaban namin,” he added.
Tenorio will have a chance to emerge as the league’s new Iron Man next Sunday, March 13, against long-time rivals Magnolia Hotshots, where Patrimonio is serving as the team manager. And he won’t stop even if he gets it, he said.
“Sa Sunday I’m willing to do it dere-deretso. Doesn’t matter anong number na as long as I can play, I’ll play,” he said.
“Hopefully ‘yung legacy na maiiwan ko dito sa basketball or dito sa PBA or sa profession natin is maging inspirasyon, especially sa aspiring basketball players, na para makarating sa ganitong sitwasyon, it takes a lot of hard work, sacrifice and discipline.”
