LA Tenorio admitted he thought he would never play basketball again after being diagnosed with cancer last February.
"While doing treatment, I never thought of playing basketball talaga. I am really focused on healing, getting better and getting back my health, not because I want to play basketball, but it's really for my family, my children, and my wife. Yun ang focus ko," Tenorio said.
READ Family, friends, teammates, fans welcome LA Tenorio back to PBA
So who would have thought that 10 months later, the PBA's Iron Man was back and playing again on the court.
The 39-year-old Tenorio played 25 minutes and hit two three pointers to cap his comeback with bang in a 110-99 win over Terrafirma on Sunday night in the PBA Commissioner's Cup.
As tribute to their team captain, the Kings inserted Tenorio as part of the starting unit and ran their first play for him.
"The very first play talaga namin was for me. Kaya lang na-miss ko yung shot. But that was really a designed play for me," he said.
Tenorio could only thank his teammates and coaching staff for making his comeback game a fun one for him.
"Since I was cleared already to play, tinutulungan nila ako, pinu-push nila talaga ako. Isa sila sa pinaka-masaya na nakabalik ako," he said of his Ginebra family.
"Sila nga ang mas excited before the game kaysa sa akin, e."
Tenorio said right now he's just still 70 percent in game shape.
"This is only my first game. Hirap yung timing, iba sa practice, iba sa game, e," he said.
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph
NOTICE ON UNAUTHORIZED AND UNLAWFUL USE, PUBLICATION, AND/OR DISSEMINATION OF SPIN.PH CONTENT: Please be notified that any unauthorized and unlawful use, publication, and/or dissemination of Spin.ph’s content and/or materials is a direct violation of its legal and exclusive rights to the same, and shall be subject to appropriate legal action/s.
