Tenorio welcomes trade, says Urbiztondo will help ease load in backcourt

Tenorio welcomes trade, says Urbiztondo will help ease load in backcourt

BARANGAY Ginebra guard LA Tenorio has welcomed the team's acquisition of Josh Urbiztondo, saying the former Barako Bull starter will provide additional firepower and help keep him fresh in the playoffs.

Tenorio has been averaging a career-high 38 minutes a game in the PBA Commissioner's Cup, where the Gilas Pilipinas mainstay had to carry much of the load in the backcourt in the absence of the injured Mark Caguioa.

He now expects those minutes to go down with the arrival of Urbiztondo, who the Kings acquired in a deal a day before the trade deadline in exchange for rookie Keith Jensen and a future second-round pick.

“Hopefully, bumaba (ang playing minutes), kasi pag ganun pa rin sa playoffs, baka di ako tumagal,” said Tenorio while making it clear that he isn't complaining about the increased responsibility.

Tenorio is averaging 19.2 points - five points more than in his debut conference for Ginebra - along with 5.8 rebounds, 4.6 assists and 1.8 steals in his last five games while the league's most popular team await the arrival of Caguioa.

The former Ateneo star expects Urbiztondo to make significant contributions to the Kings, whether as a backcourt partner or as his back-up at the point guard position.

Urbiztondo averaged 12.7 points, 4.1 rebounds and 5.5 assists for the Energy Cola this conference, while owning a 36.6 percent shooting accuracy from beyond the three-point arc.

“Malaking tulong siya (Urbiztondo) sa team,” Tenorio told Spin.ph. “Unang-una, kilala siyang threat sa outside. He can also defend and play pressure defense.”

Source: spin.ph