By REYNALD MAGALLON
LA Tenorio knew very well that he’s already in the twilight of his playing career and that’s exactly why he always tries to make the most of everything when opportunities present itself.
So when Ginebra, seemingly in a disarray and life is on the line, needing someone to make things happen, Tenorio, as he does oftentimes in the past, came and rose to the occasion.
And it was a resounding one, drilling the clutch three-pointer that not only won Game 6 for Ginebra, 88-87 against San Miguel Beer but also breathed life to the bid of Ginebra to reach a third straight finals in the PBA Philippine Cup.
It was an emotional moment for Tenorio, who just a couple of years ago, already thinking of hanging sneakers altogether.
“Miracles do happen. Not only in this game, but in my personal life. I truly believe in that. That’s why every time I step on the court, I try to make something happen,” said Tenorio, who had all of his 11 points in the fourth.
“You never know what’s going to happen, the next day, the next week, I may not be playing anymore. You never know. What I’ve learned from coach Tim (Cone) throughout the years, even in Alaska, you live through the moment. Just stay in the moment, just focus on what’s in front of you, and that’s what I did the whole game,” he added.
Tenorio had three impactful triples – the first one a momentum shifter, the second a game-tying, and the third a game-winner – all in the second half after he passed on a wide-open trey earlier in the contest.
Even Ginebra head coach Tim Cone admitted that he wasn’t supposed to leave Tenorio on the court during the final possession but decided otherwise after the veteran provided quality minutes off the bench.
Even Tenorio, himself, admitted that he felt uneasy when he was fielded back into the game.
“Honestly, I felt like a rookie again a while ago – shaking, going to the scorers’ table. As a rookie di ba, you want to make something happen and you want to help the team right away, have an impact,” recalled Tenorio.
“That’s what I honestly felt going to the court, even though I’ve been playing for 20 years now in the PBA. Thank God,” he added.
