Ginebra’s decision to tweak its starting unit for Game 3 of the PBA Season 49 Governors’ Cup on Friday night proved effective, thanks to LA Tenorio.
Just riding the bench in the last two games, the 40-year-old was surprisingly fielded by head coach Tim Cone to the Kings’ first five, together with Justin Brownlee, Japeth Aguilar, Scottie Thompson, and Stephen Holt.
He scored seven of his nine points in the first quarter alone, as he helped set the tone for their eventual 85-73 victory to come alive in the title series.
“Tulad ng sinasabi ko, I’m always ready whenever Coach calls my name — whether as a starter, off the bench, three minutes, two minutes,” Tenorio said moments after the Game 3 win at the SMART Araneta Coliseum.
The decorated veteran took the spot of Maverick Ahanmisi in the starting lineup after Ginebra went with the latter back in Games 1 and 2.
But that actually benefited the seasoned combo guard, too. Ahanmisi went on to finish as their second-leading scorer with 16 points — a point shy of equaling his total points in the previous two matches — and eight rebounds.
Tenorio’s inclusion to the starters was actually just a part of their changes, the other being Joe Devance’s return into the rotation from a minor leg injury.
The veteran big man played for the first time in this Finals and was another presence that challenged their foes defensively, as he made it tougher for the Tropang Giga to cover a frontline that already has Japeth Aguilar.
So, to see their adjustment work made Tenorio all the more satisfied, most especially because it helped the Barangay avoid falling into a 0-3 hole.
“It’s a big adjustment for us na palitan ang starting five but effective,” said the eight-time champion, who logged 16 minutes and 41 seconds.
There’s no denying his role in dictating the pace early on, but it wasn’t only the contribution made by Tenorio. He was key in their defense as well.
He also had four steals, which made him only the seventh player in PBA history with at least 900 in a career, per league stats chief Fidel Mangonon III.
“Whether it’s offense or defense, at the start of the game we need to really set the tone,” said the four-time Finals MVP.
“Kasi ‘pag sa mga ganitong klaseng game, possession by possession.”
Thanks to him, Ginebra heaved a sigh of relief after chalking up its first win of the best-of-7 affair. Tenorio does otherwise, though, as he’s wary of the fightback that the Tropa will unleash in Game 4 on Sunday, still at the Big Dome.
His concern stemmed from what he saw late in the game when Rondae Hollis-Jefferson tried to will the defending champions even though the game was all but settled, for the ‘Gineral’ views as much as a warning of sorts.
“I think we have to play better on Sunday, because we’re gonna see a better Talk N Text team. Nakita niyo naman kanina si RHJ, kahit patapos na ‘yung game, dire-diretso pa rin, ayaw tumigil,” recalled Tenorio.
“It’s a sign and he wants to show his teammates — ako ah, tingin ko doon — pinakita niya sa mga teammates niya, sa buong team niya, na next game he’ll be ready for them,” he added.
“And we have to be ready also for them.”
