LA Tenorio admitted hitting Terrence Jones during one tension-filled sequence in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup game between Barangay Ginebra and TnT Katropa on Wednesday night.
Tenorio claimed, however, it was the former NBA player who started it.
The veteran guard disclosed Jones was the first to hit him in the stomach, prompting him to return the favor.
“Ang ganda-ganda ng laro, e. Nagulat lang ako kasi one time, parang pababa ako sa transition biglang sinikmuraan niya ako. I don’t know if you saw that during the third quarter,” said Tenorio shortly after the Kings’ 104-96 loss to the Katropa.
Tenorio said he actually talked to some of the TnT players about what Jones did to him.
When he found the chance, the Barangay Ginebra playmaker hit back at Jones, which unfortunately, was caught by the game camera but not by the officials.
“Tinapik ko lang naman. Yung sa kanya talaga [na punch],” said Tenorio.

Jones later got back at Tenorio, who he pulled hard on the right shoulder just as the Ginebra stalwart was about to go for a baseline drive, causing Tenorio to crash to the floor.
Jones was assessed a flagrant foul penalty 1 and sat down for three minutes.
Tenorio hopes the league would see Jones initial hit on him once it reviews the game tape.
“Kung anuman ang makita ng PBA, bahala na sila. I’ll take full responsibility sa action (ko). Pero sana maging fair din. Tignan natin yung parehas sa both sides,” he added.
“Sana tignan din nila kung ano yung ginawa niya sa akin bago ko ginawa 'yun,” added Tenorio. “Hindi ko naman gagawin ng basta-basta yun, e. Kaya kong gawin ng first quarter, second quarter. Pero hindi ko naman ginagawa kasi naglalaro lang naman ako, e.”
This is the second time in three games Jones was involved in a physical play.
The former Houston Rocket hit Calvin Abueva on the groin during the Katropa’s game against Phoenix two weeks ago, prompting the eccentric forward to retaliate by clotheslining Jones, resulting in an indefinite suspension.
In the end, Tenorio, who finished with 18 points, five rebounds, and seven assists in the Kings’ third loss in five outings, is leaving everything to league officials, and considered the incident as just ‘part of the game.’
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