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Needing a much needed spark, Ginebra turns to veteran floor general LA Tenorio to set the tone and steer the team to its first win in the 2024 PBA Governors’ Cup finals
MANILA, Philippines – Buried in a 0-2 hole in the 2024 PBA Governors’ Cup finals, Barangay Ginebra needed to disrupt things to surprise the series-leading TNT Tropang Giga.
Ginebra head coach Tim Cone turned back the clock and started veteran floor general LA Tenorio, whom he had hoped would set the early tone for the team.
“We have a style of play that we wanted to come out with that, he was very comfortable with what we’ve done in the past and played like that,” Cone said after the Gin Kings’ 85-73 triumph in Game 3 on Friday, November 1, to cut their series deficit to 1-2.
“[Tenorio] understood that… we wanted to set that tempo from the beginning of the game, that was the primary,” he added.
Playing almost 17 minutes, Tenorio set the plays, deflected passes, called out the defensive rotation, and more importantly, gave Cone another key piece.
He finished the game with 9 points on 4-of-6 shooting and also recorded 4 steals.
The defense seemed to have been inspired by the effort of the “Gineral,” stifling TNT — which had been averaging 100 points — to just 73.
Tenorio, who turned 40 last July, vowed he will do whatever his longtime coach asks of him.
“Whenever coach calls my name, I am always ready, whether as a starter, off the bench, [or even just to play] three or two minutes,” said Tenorio.
“It was a big adjustment for us to change the starting five, but it was effective. Hopefully, we can do the same [in Game 4], but for sure, TNT will also adjust. But we’ll continue to play the way we did.”
Scottie Thompson, who started alongside Tenorio in the backcourt, also wanted to rekindle that old spark they had in the past.
“We know each other and he is still there to guide me every time even if he’s not playing inside the court,” said the former league Most Valuable Player, who had 15 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 assists.
“He coaches me what to do.” – Rappler.com
