MANILA, Philippines - Sa mga krusyal na plays, malimit na hindi si LA Tenorio ang ‘first option’ ni coach Tim Cone.
“It’s funny, you know, I don’t go to LA enough down the stretch,” sabi ni Cone sa kanyang pointguard na nagsalpak ng isang three-point shot at kumuha ng isang mahalagang steal sa loob ng huling apat na segundo para itakas ang Alaska sa Barangay Ginebra, 95-94, noong Linggo sa 2011 PBA Commissioner’s Cup sa Cuneta Astrodome sa Pasay City.
“I usually go to a guy who can break down the defense easily, someone, you know, like Cyrus (Baguio), or the import, or even a Joe (Devance). I don’t go to LA enough,” wika ng mentor.
Tinapos ni Tenorio ang naturang laro na may 18 points, 6 assists, 4 rebounds at 1 steal.
Bago ito, nagtala muna ang dating Ateneo Blue Eagle ng 15 markers at 6 assists sa 106-82 opening win ng Aces kontra Powerade Tigers noong nakaraang Miyerkules.
Bunga ng naturang dalawang sunod na pagbibida ng 5-foot-8 playmaker para sa Alaska na kasalo ang Rain or Shine sa liderato sa magkatulad nilang 2-0 rekord, kinilala si Tenorio bilang Accel-PBA Press Corps Player of the Week.
Inungusan ni Tenorio ang kakamping si Baguio at si Air21 guard Josh Urbiztondo para sa nasabing weekly citation.
“LA’s just got nerves of steel. LA just has that personality, those nerves of steel. He’s not afraid to take shots,” sabi ni Cone.
Bagamat naging instrumento sa paghahari ng Alaska sa nakaraang PBA Fiesta Conference katuwang si import Diamon Simpson, kumulapso naman si Tenorio sa huling dalawang laro ng kanilang quarterfinals series ng Ginebra sa PBA Philippine Cup.
“I think of all our players last conference LA was the most worn-out,” ani Cone. “He had to expend so much energy and it was really hard for him to get his motor going.”
“Now he’s coming back out, he’s re-focused, his mind is sharp, he’s making the right plays and he’s playing like the LA of the Diamon Simpson conference,” dagdag pa nito.