The Final Score: LA Tenorio drives through unfamiliar territory

The Final Score: LA Tenorio drives through unfamiliar territory

MICO HALILI October 24, 2012 5:40pm


The pass for Willie Wilson went awry. When a ball leaves the sure hands of Ginebra starting point guard LA Tenorio, normally, it reaches its destination, like it’s guided by GPS. In the closing moments against Petron, Tenorio thought he spotted daylight. Ginebra’s players were spread out. Tenorio, stationed near the top of the key, scanned the floor. He saw an opportunity. Petron’s defense blinked. Willie was open.LA fired a pass. Somehow, signals were crossed. Somehow, Tenorio’s tracking system went haywire. The ball, and, in a sense, Ginebra’s chances to prevent a three-game losing skid, sailed over Wilson’s head.

“Nag-a-adjust pa talaga ako,” Tenorio, who moved from Alaska to Ginebra during the offseason, admitted. “Yun yung nararamdaman ko. Hindi yun yung laro ko. Hindi ganito.”

A frustrated point guard is a point guard who longs for familiarity. He yearns for equilibrium: that sense of time and place. He can close his eyes and know where you are. Don’t worry. You will get the ball. If defenders won’t allow it, don’t fret. He will find another way to win the game. Without that sixth sense, however, the playmaker feels lost.

There is unsteadiness in Tenorio’s mien. It’s not for lack of confidence. Even the most competent players can fuss over a predicament. In LA’s case, he worries over the tectonic shift: from Jones Cup hero to struggling orchestrator, from running the offense with the speed of light to navigating a team through the eyes of a newcomer, from enjoying a 2-0 start to dealing with a 2-3 skid.

“The coaches want me to take charge,” Tenorio, who’s averaging 10 points, five rebounds and six assists, shared. “Hinihingi sa akin maging mas aggressive. But I need to have the ball. Hindi daw ako dinala dito para ipasa lang ng ipasa yung bola.”

Tenorio replayed his bungled pass to Wilson in his mind. Dapat ba pinasa ko? Dapat ba tinira ko na lang? He shook his head. Again. He’s been shaking his head a lot. He’s in the process of knowing coaches and teammates better, identifying their quirks and habits faster. It hasn’t been easy. He still makes mistakes. I wonder if committing nine turnovers in his last two games is a sign. He knew Alaska teammates the way he knew his Ateneo teammates from 2002. Gamay na gamay. He’s still learning his way around the Ginebra guys. In his own words: “Tancha-tancha muna ako.”

Tenorio prepares for Sunday. It will be a huge day for at least two reasons: a) Ginebra meets his former team, Alaska and b) Ginebra aims to snap a three-game skid. Tenorio says the last two practices have been fruitful. He is now involved in more plays. He is making more decisions with the ball in his hand. He won’t develop an instinctive rapport with new teammates overnight. But he can start finding his way if all goes well in one game.

“Bigyan nila ako ng bola,” Tenorio asserted. “I’ll give it to the right person. Didiskarte ako.” - AMD, GMA News

Source: Gmanetwork.com