THE MAN THEY CALL, "TENYENTE"

Countless times, you have seen him do it.

In what appears to be already a lost battle, the lionheart comes to the rescue to save the game.
He did it again last night.

Barangay Ginebra went down by as much as 18 points against Rain or Shine, then "Tenyente" Tenorio leads a furious second half rally to lift his team to victory.

One cannot help but to be amazed with the skill and spirit of the guy.
In awe, I ask: "How does he do it?"

Some people say it is because of Ato Badolato. While others would profess that Ateneo's successful college basketball program is where credit's due. Yet others still would proclaim, "Batangueño, kasi eh."

But really, what makes LA Tenorio, LA Tenorio?

I do not know either.

Or at least, I want to suspend judgment on how the diminutive guard works his wonders on the hardcourt.
Again, to reiterate: I'd rather delay discernment. Momentarily.

I had the chance to interview Tenorio after their win against the Elasto Painters last night. He shooed me for a second because he gamely obliged to a kid's photo request. After which he prayed at the coliseum's crucifix. My amazement heightened.

Drafted as the fourth overall pick by San Miguel in 2006, Tenorio's career took a lift-off when the Beermen traded him to Alaska in March 2008. Four and a half seasons and a championship after, he found himself being shipped to another team yet again.

He is now donning the proud red, white and black colors of Barangay Ginebra San Miguel. And with great esteem, Tenorio now plays for the crowd darlings as its chief court general.

With all due respect to Jayjay Helterbrand, a former league MVP and an effective playmaker himself during his prime, Tenorio has now assumed the role of running the Barangay.

Robert Jaworski. Bal David. Jayjay Helterbrand. The pedigree of point guards from Ginebra is really topnotch. Even Johnny Abarrientos had a stint with the team, albeit, his career was already on its twilight. Truly, Tenorio follows a great genealogy of court maestros from Ginebra's lineage.
And now, the ball has been passed to his hands.

It's not like the man they call 'Tenyente' is coming into the Ginebra camp, without a decent track record. In fact, his record is pretty impressive. No. Outstanding is the proper term.

In his rookie year, he was able to norm 8.19 ppg, 2.45 rpg and 3.15 apg. Those numbers were enough for him to be included to the PBA All-Rookie team of his draft class. Before he moved to Ginebra, he was able to establish in his last playing year for Alaska, career-bests in all of the aforementioned categories registering 14 ppg, 5.37 rpg and 5.43 apg, while also logging a career-high 36 minutes per game. A story of overcoming.

But his crowning glory to my mind is the 2012 Jones Cup, where he steered the SMART-Gilas Pilipinas national team to a championship. Tenorio scattered 20 points in the game agaist USA, including the go-ahead basket to give us the gold medal of the tourney. That was only the fourth time that we were able to do that in the Jones Cup's 34 years of history. Heading into the most crucial moments of that game, he thought to himself, "What if I step up and win this game for my country?" Yes, we all know he did. A story of gallantry.

I asked LA the three highlights of his basketball career so far. With conviction he shared, "Ateneo Championship 2002. First PBA Championship with Alaska 2010. Jones Cup Championship 2012." Only one thing came to mind: this 28-year old is a consistent winner. I asked him again - with three letters in mind - what is it that you'd still like to achieve in your career? To my dismay, he did not answer "M-V-P". Instead he replied, "more championships." Then, it occurred to me that this consistent winner is in fact a proven team player. A story of humility.

Badolato. And LA's story of overcoming.

Ateneo. And Tenorio's story of humility.

Batangueño. And the Tenyente's story of gallantry.

What makes LA Tenorio, LA Tenorio?

Discernment's done.

SOURCE: SolarsportsDesk.Ph

bumabalik na ang laro ni tenyente .....

nakukuha na nya ang TIMING nya sa Ginebra.. Di na sya gaano nangangapa.. Parang DIESEL lang, dahan dahan umiinit

sana jan na rin sa sa ginebra mag retire..