By REY C. LACHICA
HANGZHOU, China – He’s far from his fighting form, but the aura is obviously back on Ginebra star LA Tenorio’s face, and is glowing as he continues to recover from a colon cancer treatment.
In fact he was in lively mood during a dinner hosted by San Miguel big boss Ramon Ang through Ginebra Governor Alfrancis Chua on Friday, Sept. 29, that he said: “Sige kain lang kayo ako bahala.”
That was, however, said in jest but it elicited a hearty laugh from PBA Commissioner Willie Marcial.
Turning serious, Tenorio he’s thankful and grateful that he is doing well physically right now that he was able to join Gilas afternoon practice.
“Nakakapagod dahil sumabay ako sa practice ng team kanila,” said Tenorio, inaurguably one of the smartest and quickest guards to have played in the play-for-pay league in the Philippines.
But he’s not rushing everything, saying he has to do it step-by-step to regain his full strenght and sharpness.
Accreditation mess
One of the issues that refuses to die down here is the accreditation and tickets mess some members of PH delegation painfully experienced coming here and during games.
A powerful member of the PBA Board had to sit at the bleacher during the Gilas game against Thailand on Thursday because his ID is only confined to a certain sport.
The same thing were encountered by Gilas delegation that team manager Alfrancis Chua said: “Muntik ko ng pagawan ng uniform sina LA (Tenorio) and coach Richard (Del Rosario) dahil muntik ng di makarating ang mga late additions namin.”
Family first
NorthPort Governor Erick Arejola had to leave this lovely city to go to Bali, Indonesia to watch her daughter, Iana, compete in a dance competition.
“I want to support Gilas all the way but I hope the PBA Board understand my situation,” said Arejola in a text message Friday.
Her daughter is a member of La Salle-Zobel dance group, looking to win the prestigious event.
Goma is here
PH Chief de Mission and Leyte (4th District) Rep. Richard Gomez is “in the house.”
A no-show during the first 10 of the 19-day sporting showpiece in this bustling metropolis, arrived on Friday and made rounds right away.
One of the venues he visited was the Hangzhou Gym where he rooted for boxer Eumir Marcial.
He was busy with his congressional duties that he came late even for the opening ceremony that earned raves from almost everybody. The saddest part of it was that, he missed to see his fencer-daughter Juliana Marie put up a gallant fight against some the heavyweights.
