LA Tenorio’s legend as the PBA’s Ironman lives on as the 33-year-old logged in a whopping 56 minutes and 52 seconds in Barangay Ginebra’s 104-100 triple overtime victory over Rain or Shine Elasto Painters Friday night at the SMART Araneta Coliseum. The floor general finished with 20 points and six rebounds.
The minutes he played in the contest is now part of the league’s history, said chief statistician Fidel Mangonon. It is the fourth all-time single game record among locals behind Kerby Raymundo (61), Jun Limpot (60), and Robert Jaworski (58).
It has also become the fourth all-time in the Barangay’s rich history, behind foreign reinforcements Michael Hackett and Billy Ray Bates, and Jaworski.
The 12-year league veteran was clearly exhausted as he made his way out of the team’s dugout, but his face glowed a bit upon learning that his Friday night outing has made its’ way into the 43-year-old league’s history books.
“With my age right now, at 33, with my mileage, not missing a single game, it’s truly a blessing for me,” said Tenorio, who played his 543rd straight game. “Ayokong mag-complain. I’m sure a lot of of aspiring basketball players want to be in my shoes right now.
“So I take it as a blessing right now na nakakalaro ako ng matagal hanggang ngayon naglalaro pa rin ako.”
But for Tenorio, it wouldn’t all be possible if it weren’t for the trust he got from none other than Ginebra head coach Tim Cone.
“I was there for 56, 57 minutes, and I think yung trust na binigay sa’kin ni Coach Tim malaking bagay,” he said.
“[I was there] knowing na in the second, third overtime I was struggling with my offense. But then he trusted me na nandun ako.”
The victory has propelled the Barangay directly into the playoffs, and will face the Elasto Painters again on Monday for their best-of-three series. Now, the road to recovery starts for Tenorio and the rest of the Gin Kings.
“We just have to find ways to rest our body, to be ready again. Practice tomorrow and game on Monday,” he said. “We don’t have any choice. We’re here, nabigyan kami ng chance to be in the Top Six and yun naman ang hinabol namin so might as well do it na lang.
“Tulad ng sinasabi ko we’ll just rest after the conference.”
