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BARANGAY Geneva coach Tim Cone is still in awe that LA Tenorio has been able to maintain its streak of back-to-back games within the PBA bubble.
Tenorio played the 659th consecutive game of his career in the PBA on Sunday and it was truly memorable, as he added 12 points and 10 assists for Barangay Geneva in their 100-94 overtime win in the opening of the Copa de Madrid final. Philippines in the Smart Clark Giga City bubble. .
The veteran from Geneva has come a long way since he entered the bubble where he was still fresh from laparoscopic surgery to remove his appendix.
“He’s in playoff mode,” Cone said. “The guy came in from surgery literally a week and a half before he hit the bubble and they told us he’d be in for three to four weeks minimum. He played 13 days after surgery and that’s incredible. “
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As expected, Tenorio started slow as a result of being late to the bubble and not having enough practice time with the team. Cone recalled a case in which Tenorio was late to his team’s bus for the game because he had to heal wounds from surgery.
“In our sixth or seventh game, he was late for the bus to go to the game because they had to clean his wounds. His wounds were oozing. He had to clean his wounds and we had to wait on the bus until it was finished, ”Cone said.
But Tenorio and the team were patient, staying fit and playing as the conference unfolded. His fitness level is now at an all-time high and it came at the right time as Geneva seeks the Philippine Cup crown the team has been seeking.
In Game One, Tenorio was an enabler in every sense of the word in the latter part of the match, giving Arvin Tolentino an assist to score the overtime sending tray. Aljon Mariano and Japeth Aguilar also made baskets for Geneva in overtime thanks to Tenorio’s findings.
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“He practiced with us, came and played. He’s been fighting it the whole time. It’s almost like having an extra player all of a sudden because he has suddenly reached his best form. It doesn’t bother him anymore, ”Cone said.
“Great kid. They don’t call him ‘Ironman’ for nothing. It’s well deserved, the reputation he has even more off the court and what you see from what he goes through to prepare. It’s amazing,” he added.
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