LA TENORIO said he felt like he was a rookie when he entered Game 6 of the PBA Philippine Cup semifinals, where Barangay Ginebra was fighting San Miguel Beer to keep its season alive.
As rookies go, the 40-year-old Tenorio admitted feeling butterflies in his stomach as he stood up after his number was called by coach Tim Cone. It was not like what he felt before when he was ready and eager.
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But with the season on the line and this being only his fourth time to join the fray his conference, the nervousness was palpable inside him.
His experience, however, saved the day for him, and also his team.
The 18-season veteran delivered the fatal blow against the Beermen - a three-pointer with 3.1 seconds left that gave Barangay Ginebra an 88-87 victory over San Miguel to force a Game 7.
It was one more "never-say-die" moment for Ginebra, leaving fans delirious and another night to remember for their favorite team.
“Honestly, I felt like a rookie again a while ago,” said Tenorio, recalling the time he went into the game. “Shaking, going to the scorers’ table because, as a rookie, you want to make something happen, you want to help the team right away and have an impact.”
The "rookie jitters" seemed to have showed in the second quarter when Tenorio passed up on a wide-open three-pointer, and instead dished the ball to Stephen Holt who was open in the left corner.
But he had a different take regarding that moment.
“My goal is not to shoot right away. As a veteran, as a leader of the team, I want everyone to be involved. Hindi naman porket pinasok ako, I want to take the shot right away.
"Even though I was really wide open, I know some of my teammates have the rhythm right away. ‘Yun ‘yung naisip ko, ipasa ko kay Stephen. They have the right to take two, three shots consecutively because they have the rhythm already. That’s why I didn’t want to shoot.”
But later, when the occasion called for it, there was no hesitation from LA’s part to take a three-point shot during the final seconds when he received a kick-out pass from Scottie Thompson with the game on the line.
“Just like what Coach Tim said, miracles do happen. Not only in this game but in my personal life. I truly believe in that. That’s why every time I step on the court, I try to make something happen.
"As a leader of the team, I think for more than matagal na taon na, I really need to be, you know, on point on everything that I do. It doesn't matter if it's two minutes, three minutes, one minute. I have to be a role model to them.
“So, just like for this game, I was really ready not to go home and have a vacation, a long vacation, because we’re going to be busy in the next few months,” said Tenorio.
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