Tales of epic comebacks

MANILA, Philippines —  It’s not their first rodeo but skippers RR Pogoy of defending champion TNT and LA Tenorio of Barangay Ginebra see the coming PBA Governors’ Cup finals as extra special and invigorating.

Pogoy and Tenorio are in the Last Dance for the first time after their inspiring comebacks from myocarditis and colon cancer, respectively, and will cherish every moment of it.

“I’m just happy to be here, to be still a part of the Ginebra team and to be part of this finals,” said Tenorio, who was diagnosed with the Big C in February 2023 and spent 10 months of treatment before coming back in the Season 48 Commissioner’s Cup.

“I feel blessed after everything that happened to me and now I’m still here with the opportunity to witness the greatness of coach Chot (Reyes of TNT). He’s a great coach and I was with him in the national team, and of course coach Tim (Cone of Ginebra), and two great imports with RHJ (Tropang Giga’s Rondae Hollis-Jefferson) and JB (the Gin Kings’ Justin Brownlee).”

Pogoy, who was sidelined by heart ailment in October 2023 and returned to active duty after only three months, shared the former PBA Ironman’s feeling.

“Sobrang blessed din ako kasi galing din ako sa layoff, nagka-injury. Sobrang blessed na nakabalik sa finals and 100 percent na ako (today) at makakasama ako sa pag-aim sa pang-10th championship ng TNT,” he said.

While fit-again Pogoy is a major contributor on the floor and top local scorer of TNT of the conference with 13.71 points per game, Tenorio averages just over seven minutes of playing time as he serves a second hat – mentor to the rookie RJ Abarrientos and pre-season acquisition Stephen Holt and other guards.

“It’s a different role for me this time. First time to be in the finals and have a different role in the team and I’m excited also for that,” he said.

The excitement is exponentially higher for TNT guard Rey Nambatac, who vowed not to let a right pinky injury he sustained in the semis stop him from his long-awaited PBA finals stint.

“Okay naman, playable naman sa Game 1. I don’t think magiging distraction pa ito sa akin,” Nambatac, who waited seven years to reach the grand stage, told The STAR. “Wala naman ito, maliit na bagay. What’s more important is makalaro ng 100 percent sa finals,” he added.

The Tropang Giga and the Gin Kings have a good seven days of preparation and scouting, even amid the recent storm, before they launch their first strike tomorrow at the Ynares Center in Antipolo.

“I think the week off we had has been good for us and TNT,” said Cone. “We’ll be refreshed and that should lift the level of play of the players once the series starts.”