October 16, 2017

Tenorio, playing hurt for so long, goes under the knife after title series

Barangay Ginebra San Miguel coach Tim Cone couldn't help but marvel at LA Tenorio's heroics in Sunday's Game 2 victory in the PBA Governors' Cup Finals despite dealing with an injured shooting elbow that has bothered him for most of the campaign.

Tenorio, who is set to go under the knife following the championship series, played as if pain-free and hit a telling three-point shot in the final minute that catapulted Ginebra to an 86-76 win over Meralco and a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven series.

"LA has been a big shot maker for us the whole conference. And he's playing with a bum elbow too, he's gonna have a surgery on his (shooting) elbow at the end of the conference," Cone said. "But he's playing through it and still shooting the ball well."

The reigning Governors' Cup Finals Most Valuable Player scored seven during the 17-1 windup that enabled the Kings to overcome a 75-69 deficit with less than six minutes remaining and make it two in a row over the Bolts in their finals rematch.

His three off Chris Newsome from the top of the key with1:07remaining, gave Ginebra an 82-76 lead that crushed any hopes of a Meralco escape act.

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"The dagger was really the shot hit by LA Tenorio," Meralco coach Norman Black said.

"Kung 100 percent siguro baka di pumasok. Kaya ayokong ipa-opera kasi nakakashoot ako," Tenorio shared in jest.

The stats have proven Tenorio to be such an effective shooter amid the injury. He's 44 percent from the field this conference, including almost half from three-point country going 40 of 95.

That was something Tenorio observed when he had second thoughts of going under the knife during a three-week break in the eliminations last August before deciding to do otherwise.

While he's dealing with pain almost every game, his sacrifice has resulted in Ginebra's moving two wins shy of another championship.

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"Pinagbabayaran ko ngayon kasi sobrang sakit talaga," he said.(JT)