All in just a span of days.
LA Tenorio moved up higher in the PBA’s all-time three-points made list following another solid showing that ultimately helped Barangay Ginebra barge into the 2022-23 PBA Commissioner’s Cup semifinals, Saturday night.
The league’s ‘Iron Man’ sank a total of four triples in the Kings’ 99-93 Game Two win over NorthPort to tie two-time MVP James Yap at no. 3 in the ranks. Both the sure-fire Hall of Famers now has 1,178 career triples each.
One more and he will overtake the 40-year-old, which he could possibly achieve during the crowd darlings’ upcoming best-of-five clash with long-time rivals Magnolia next week in yet another Manila Clasico playoff encounter.
The three-pointer to tie his fellow luminary proved to be important for Ginebra. It capped off a 10-0 run for a 97-85 lead with less than three minutes left to play, a separation that proved enough to ward off the hard-fighting opposition.
“I think more than the record is really… ‘pag na-shoot ko yun, nananalo kami,” quipped Tenorio, who finished with 14 points and three assists, in between chuckles moments after the game at the Philsports Arena in Pasig.
Turning serious, the 38-year-old reiterated his blessedness in being part of that list, which he climbed up high in just a span of days — he eclipsed all-time great Ronnie Magsanoc at no. 4 in Game One of the quarters bout last Wednesday.
“Katulad ng sinabi ko last interview, I’m not going for that. Darating at darating yan katulad ngayon, dumating,” he said.
“But again, katulad ng sinabi ko last game, talagang very blessed, fortunate to be part of that list.
“That top three, that top five, that list. So ‘yun lang, sobrang ano lang ako, masaya lang ako na part ng milestone na naman na nakuha ko as a player. Isa sa mga legacy na iiwan natin ‘yan,” added the 16-year veteran.
Now, he hopes to sink more of those shots against the Hotshots for better chances of winning, which could ultimately help the Barangay return to the Big Dance of the mid-season tourney for the first time since 2018.
“Hopefully, this coming series, mas marami pang ganon,” he said.
“Para manalo kami.”
