It took three years for ace guard LA Tenorio to finally capture a PBA title with Barangay Ginebra San Miguel, and he’s hoping the Governors’ Cup championship won’t be the last for the Kings.
The 5-foot-10 Tenorio played as if it was a ‘do-or-die’ encounter as he scored 25 points, including 14 in the third quarter when he engineered Ginebra’s fightback in Game 6, which the Kings won 91-88.
“Sana hindi ito ’yung huli,” said Tenorio, who was shipped to Ginebra in 2012 from Alaska. “Medyo matagal din nag-antay for this one kaya sana hindi naman ganun katagal uli… next season uli.”
It was Tenorio’s first championship with the Kings since his first finals stint with the franchise ended with a disappointing 3-0 sweep in the finals against his former team Alaska in 2013 Fiesta Cup.
For his performance, Tenorio was adjudged the unanimous PBA Press Corps – CIGNAL Finals MVP.
In his acceptance speech, Tenorio bared that it was a double celebration for him since his wife Chesca is expected to deliver another baby boy Thursday.
The couple has two young boys.
After the game, the former Ateneo stalwart said that he really went all-out in Game 6 since he wanted to be with his wife and not think about preparing for a Game 7 which would have been played Friday.
“Nasa isip ko lang talaga na I don’t want to play Game Seven kasi ’yung baby ko e lalabas bukas,” Tenorio. “Kung magkaroon ng Game Seven iisipin ko pa ’yun, my wife is in the hospital, my baby is in the hospital.”
“‘Yun talaga ’yung motivation sa akin. Ginawa ko best ko for us to win,” he added.