“MIRACLES do happen.”
Those were among the first words that Barangay Ginebra coach Tim Cone told reporters in the Araneta Coliseum press room following a breathtaking 88-87 win over San Miguel to force a Game 7 in the PBA Philippine Cup semifinals.
READ:Clutch Tenorio trey saves Ginebra season, forces Game 7 vs SMB
On any usual day, we’d chalk this one up as one of coach Cone’s hyperboles. This industry, after all, revolves around exaggerated lingo – whether it be from coaches and players, up to the reporters and commentators covering their respective beats.
But this isn’t one such case, and it had to do with the man calmly nodding beside him in agreement as he was blurting out those words.
Having played little to no minutes for the entire playoffs, veteran guard LA Tenorio wasn’t supposed to be there with Cone, speaking to the press about how they overcame a 16-point deficit to stay alive against a very talented Beermen squad.
Heck, at two days short of his 41st birthday – it’s fairly surprising to see a guard, with all the mileage that he has from the PBA and the national team, to win games of this magnitude.
Especially when that said guard was diagnosed with colon cancer two years ago.
Fast forward to Sunday at the Big Dome and that same player was beating his chest like a war drum with the collective cheers of the people in attendance as his accompanying ensemble after hitting a game-winning three-pointer to complete Barangay Ginebra’s comeback win over San Miguel.
Those thrilling moments reminded me how exciting this industry can be.
But when the camera focused on LA Tenorio’s wife and parents, tears in their eyes as they proudly cheered on their guy – it was the perfect reminder of the beauty of sports and why I love it in general.
Watching a man who just received one of the worst health diagnoses just two years ago not only recover, but return to his old ways and play the hero for the most popular ball club in the Philippines – that’s why.
Watching his family, the most immediate ones who were affected by the diagnosis, be overcome with emotion but this time in the most positive way – that’s why.
READ: Cone says 'LA put my kids through college doing those kinds of things'
It’s a fairly nice reminder ‘cause in this industry, it’s easy to get ahead of yourself, to be so passionate about one team, or one idea, or in our case - our job - that sometimes it takes the joy out of sports.
Fans and journalists can get so caught up with results, championships and trophies that it’s easy to take moments like this for granted.
That's why sometimes, it’s nice to just sit back and look past the winners and losers and enjoy the magnitude of the moment – not as a fan of any team, but a fan of sports in general.
READ Cone asks Scottie to create a game-winning shot - and he delivers
Sure, this series is far from over. San Miguel can pretty much still advance to the finals and LA’s heroics might just be a footnote to some people in the Beermen’s march back to the championship.
But for LA’s family, the kids he has inspired as the coach of the Gilas Pilipinas Youth, the tens of thousands of fans who’ve prayed for him and watched him beat cancer, and especially those who might be suffering from the same sickness, looking for anything, something to cling onto – it’s a miraculous moment that will be forever ingrained in their minds.
And we’d be fools to take that for granted and chalk that one up to hyperbole.
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