Tenorio leads 'Best Player' race, but focused on turning Ginebra's fortunes around

“I think mas importante ngayon eh yung manalo muna kami dahil sa mga nangyayari sa amin. Saka like I said before, I’m willing to exchange a Best Player of the Conference award for a championship,” says Ginebra backcourt star LA Tenorio. Jerome Ascano

BARANGAY Ginebra spitfire guard LA Tenorio remains on track for a second straight Best Player of the Conference title after emerging as the statistical race leader in the ongoing PBA Governors Cup.

The playmaker out of Ateneo has so far amassed 32.0 statistical points (sps), according to the latest figures released by the league.

The 5-foot-8 guard, a starter for Gilas Pilipinas during the recent 27^th Fiba-Asia Championship, is closely followed by Petron forward Arwind Santos with 29.2 sps.

The 6-foot-4 Santos, though, is leading the race for the season MVP plum. (For full story, see Petron's fast start helps Santos leapfrog Abueva to top of heated MVP race).

Tenorio has been taking charge for the injury-riddled Kings for most of the eliminations, averaging 15.0 points, 5.8 rebounds and 9.1 assists in 35.3 minutes in six games.

But Tenorio, the Best Player of the Conference in the last Commissioner’s Cup, said he’s willing to trade an individual award for a league championship anytime.

“I think mas importante ngayon eh yung manalo muna kami dahil sa mga nangyayari sa amin. Saka like I said before, I’m willing to exchange a Best Player of the Conference award for a championship,” said Tenorio, when informed by Spin.ph that he’s leading the BPC statistical derby.

Nonetheless, the soft-spoken Tenorio said to be in the running for the Best Player of the Conference award is a testament to the hard work he has been putting in.

“It’s a great feeling na ma-recognize `yung hard work natin this conference. It means my hard work is paying off, though again, basketball is a team sport, so mas maganda bigyan ng championship ang Ginebra,” he added.

Tenorio recently posted a career-best 34 points, to go with seven rebounds, and seven assists in leading the Kings to a 98-85 win over Meralco late last month.

He flirted with a triple-double performance last Sunday after finishing with 17 points, nine assists, and nine rebounds in an 86-89 Ginebra loss to San Mig Coffee.

Rain or Shine sophomore guard Paul Lee is running third behind Tenorio and Santos with 29.6 sps. followed by Meralco veteran big man Reynel Hugnatan in fourth with 28.5.

Rounding out the Top 10 in the race for the BPC award are Alaska’s Sonny Thoss (28.0), the Petron pair of  Alex Cabagnot (27.7) and rookie center June Mar Fajardo (27.0), Meralco rookie forward Cliff Hodge (26.2), Barako Bull rookie guard Eman Monfort (25.8), and Globalport veteran Jay Washington (25.7).