La Tenorio showed that he feels right at home with the barangay Ginebra Kings after getting traded from the Alaska Aces in the previous offseason.
This he showed decisively as he towed the Kings past the favored Talk ‘N Text Tropang Texters in Games 4 and 5 of the semifinals series in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup.
Tenorio normed 22 points, seven rebounds and six assists in those games, including 28 points in the series-clinching 111-103 win in Game 5 that completed their comeback from a series 1-2 deficit.
The feat was impressive enough since it has been done by three teams only and that the former Ateneo standout achieved those numbers with various ailments including a bum elbow.
In Game 4, Tenorio shrugged off both pressure and pain and piled up 16 points, eight rebounds and eight assists to help the Kings tie the series with a 104-101 win. Prior to that game, Tenorio was averaging just 8.6 points, 3.0 rebounds and 3.6 assists.
Those victories gave Ginebra the right to face Tenorio’s former team in the best-of-five title duel starting tomorrow. /Correspondent Jonas Panerio