In search of answers amid a 0-2 series deficit, Barangay Ginebra went old school to pull off a Game 3 win on Friday in the PBA Season 49 Governors’ Cup finals by inserting veteran LA Tenorio in the starting lineup.
The 40-year-old seasoned guard had a surprise start for coach Tim Cone, teaming up with Scottie Thompson and Stephen Holt in the backcourt while providing the help to Justin Brownlee and Japeth Aguilar.
That turned out to be the move the Gin Kings badly needed to deny the Tropang Giga a 3-0 bid in their best-of-seven affair.
No one welcomed this more than Thompson, who has been playing with the grizzled playmaker ever since he entered the PBA in 2015.
“Unang-una, I’m confident playing with Kuya LA for how many years. Alam na namin ‘yung isa’t isa and nandiyan pa rin siya to guide me every time, even wala siya sa court,” Thompson said.
“Siya ‘yung nagco-coach sa akin kung anong gagawin sa loob at I was excited before the game kasi I know na magkakasabay ulit kami sa court.”
Giving way to the younger players, Tenorio has seen a drop in his playing minutes for Ginebra as he juggles his role as one of Cone’s deputies.
But as the Gin Kings saw themselves down in the series, they turned to one of their old reliables in Tenorio and he gladly delivered, putting together nine points and four steals in almost 17 minutes of play.
That surprised TNT as Tenorio didn’t even see action in Tropang Giga’s 104-88 Game 1 win while he only got to play for two minutes and 28 seconds in their 96-84 Game 2 triumph.
“Kuya LA is a winner so he knows how to win, that’s why he set the tone coming to this game,” Thompson added.
With Tenorio on the floor, Ginebra displayed its ‘Never Say Die’ spirit.
“Finals na eh, kailangan naming i-grind every game,” the former NCAA standout added.
“Siyempre down kami coming to this game so we just wanted to win, ‘yun lang talaga. I think it’s the perfect time to show the NSD spirit na sana makabalik kami sa series na ‘to.”
—JKC, GMA Integrated News
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