THE Philippine Basketball Association will be back on the road on Saturday, swinging back to Southern Luzon with a special game - pitting Barangay Ginebra and Phoenix Super LPG -- in a first-ever visit in San Jose, Batangas.
The Gin Kings and the Fuel Masters attended a meet-and-greet session at the San Jose Municipal Hall Sunday to kick off the visit that culminates in the league's inaugural game in a brand new arena named after the late movie king Fernando Poe Jr.
Tip-off is at 6:30 p.m. in the game also serving as LA Tenorio's homecoming in the province. The veteran Ginebra guard is from Nasugbu.
It's also a homecoming for PBA commissioner Willie Marcial, from nearby Batangas City, who was among those present during the inauguration of the FPJ Arena just last Aug. 20 - the 84th birth anniversary of Poe, a national artist for film.
"It's a brand new gym where we'll hold a first PBA game, and so this is a very special event," said Marcial of the tiff where both the Gin Kings and the Fuel Masters will stake their hot streaks.
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Coach Jamike Jarin's Fuel Masters are right behind pacesetter Magnolia Hotshots (6-0) with a 5-1 card. They set out for battle riding the momentum of a four-game run.
Coach Tim Cone and his Gin Kings, meanwhile, are at 4-1 coming from three successive losses after a heartbreaker in their Manila Clasico duel with the Hotshots.
It will also be a clash of highly dependable imports in Tony Bishop of Ginebra and Johnathan Williams III of Phoenix.
The Kings are soaring high from an emotional 110-99 win over the Terrafirma Dyip marked by the return of Tenorio on Sunday.
Cone's charges were surely driven to get this one for Tenorio, their beloved bet who played his first game after overcoming his battle with colon cancer.
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The PBA's "Iron Man," whose last appearance was back in February in the Season 46 Governors' Cup, started and finished the game to applause from the appreciative audience. He finished with six points spiked by a 2-of-2 three-point shooting plus one rebound, three assists and one steal in 25 minutes and 52 seconds of action.
Tenorio's leadership and inspirational presence cushioned the impact of the absence of Scottie Thompson, who is sidelined by a leg contusion he sustained in their previous outing.
The veteran playmaker took center stage at halftime to be recognized by commissioner Marcial, vice chairman Bobby Rosales and Ginebra governor Alfrancis Chua for his gallantry in his battle with the Big C.
Tenorio is expected to also draw warm reception in San Jose. (SB)
