LA Tenorio welcomed the PBA’s decision to move Game Seven of the PBA Commissioner’s Cup Finals on Sunday as it would mean more time for him to recover from an abdominal strain he suffered during the series.
Originally set for this Friday, the league heeded the fans’ call to reschedule the all-important affair taking place at the cavernous Philippine Arena in Bulacan.
“At least may time to recover, lalo na ako,” he offered moments after Ginebra’s 87-84 Game Six loss to Bay Area Wednesday night.
Tenorio was listed as questionable to play in the Kings’ potential title clincher after getting hurt back in Game Five last Sunday, but braved through it.
Understandably, the 38-year-old played just a little over 18 minutes and finished with a rebound, an assist, and a steal as he went 0-for-5 from the floor.
“I really pushed myself to play,” said the PBA’s ‘Ironman’, who averaged 11.4 points in the series’ first five games. “Sana mas better on Sunday.”
Tenorio admitted that the injury becomes more painful with ‘certain movements,’ thus the hope to feel much better come Game Seven as he wants to go all out and help Ginebra clinch its seventh championship since 2016.
“May certain movements lang na masakit talaga kaya limited minutes lang din,” he said. “Hindi naman siya… every time naglalakad, masakit? Hindi. Weird eh. May movement na sobrang sakit. Sa Sunday, wala, bigay na lahat ‘yan.”
He hopes, too, for the Kings to start out much better in the decider, noting that they can’t afford to let their counterparts find rhythm early like in Game Six.
“We started flat. Parang nagkaroon agad sila ng rhythm from the start of the game especially [Myles] Powell — considering na si Powell tagal na hindi naglaro. He played last… November, ‘di ba? ‘Yun ang kailangan namin tingnan.
“Hopefully, hindi na maulit ‘yung slow start namin,” the seven-time PBA champion said. “Hindi namin pwedeng gawin ‘yun against Bay Area, bigyan sila ng early rhythm. From the start pa lang, we really have to be aggressive.”
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The second game of each PBA gameday is live-streamed on SMART Sports.
