By REYNALD MAGALLON
It may still be uncertain whether LA Tenorio will be present for Barangay Ginebra during its title showdown against TNT but the veteran court general remains to be the inspirational leader for the team.
While admittedly still a very emotional subject not just for head coach Tim Cone but also the rest of the Kings, the multi-titled mentor shared that Tenorio remains in their minds and continuously provides the inspiration just like how he always does when he’s inside the court.
“He’s constantly with us, constantly in our minds. Like I said it’s really difficult to talk about LA but he’s a presence that hovers over us all the time. Whether this has happened to him or not, he’s still an inspiration,” Cone said of Tenorio who is in the middle of the treatment for his Stage 3 colon cancer
Still, the Kings are not only wanting to defend their title and extend their reign in the season-ending conference but they are also hoping to win it all for Tenorio who back in the past has also won them so many games with his own heroics.
“It’s very difficult talking about LA. It’s a very emotional subject for us. To say that we’re playing for LA is almost cliche. It’s so much deeper than that to say this. We’re trying to win this for LA, so much deeper on so many levels,” said Cone.
“LA is one of those guys and he’s been special way back with me with Alaska, just like Jojo (Lastimosa), a team captain for many years and a mentor to all these here. He mentored all the players in our team,” he added.
Cone said it’s unlikely that Tenorio will be with the team throughout the duration of the Finals as he already went to Singapore to start the treatment last week but his mere presence alone and being still in contact with the team is already a big boost for the rest of the players.
The veteran coach highlighted that Tenorio’s leadership and the respect he commanded from the Kings is what makes the PBA’s Iron man valuable to Ginebra even when not inside the court.
“It’s more about the presence in LA and the idea that players listened to him so when he had advice, everyone stops and listens. He’s not involved in the day-to-day coaching because he’s doing treatments and coming back so he’s not with us hundred percent of the time,” shared Cone.
“When LA speaks, everyone listens and when he comes up to you in the middle of the game, because he sees the game pretty well, he’s been around this kind of situations, when he sees stuff and brings it to like of Scottie (Thompson), Stanley (Pringle) even Justin (Brownlee), they listen and he is just a presence out there,” he furthered.
