Situated at the heart of the Barangay Ginebra Gin Kings’ roster is a 39-year-old point guard who recently returned to the hardcourt. Recognized as the Philippine Basketball Association’s (PBA) “Iron Man,” L.A. Tenorio started in Ginebra’s Commissioner's Cup 110-99 win against the Terrafirma Dyip at the Philsports Arena last Sunday, December 3, 2023.
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The Terrafirma squad overwhelmed their Gin Kings counterparts out of the gate, taking a four-point advantage after the first quarter. Led by import Thomas de Thaey and Javi Gomez De Liano, the pair combined for 40 of Terrafirma’s 99 markers, though it wasn’t enough to contain the “Never Say Die” surge.
Following a 28-point rally to culminate the first half, Barangay Ginebra commanded the rest of the duel with their captain actively on the floor or extending his support from the sidelines. Tenorio converted two heaves from beyond the arc in the third period, recording 3 assists, 1 rebound, and 1 steal in the contest.
After 17 years in the league, Tenorio motions that his career is far from over, breaking a 10-month hiatus as he underwent treatment due to a diagnosis of Stage 3 colon cancer in March of 2023. The former Ateneo Blue Eagle saw action in 744 consecutive professional games before sitting out in their matchup against the Meralco Bolts, mentioning to have experienced discomfort.
“This is not the end of me. This is just the start,” said Tenorio in Tagalog.
