‘Second-best’ duo sneaks in first punch

San Miguel may have had the best player and best import of the conference on its side but it was Alaska’s one-two punch ofLA Tenorio and Diamon Simpson that knocked in the first biff of this year’s PBA Fiesta Conference Finals series.

Tenorio and Simpson, who were edged by Jay Washington and Gabe Freeman for the best player and best import of the conference award, respectively, didn’t mind losing the individual accolades and willed the Aces instead to a pulsating 89-83 triumph over the defending champion Beermen.

“I’m not really thinking about the awards but I am happy that I am one of the top nominees for best player of the conference, I’m happy for that opportunity even if I didn’t win,” said Tenorio, who suited up for San Miguel during the 2006-07 season.

The former Ateneo playmaker was a far second behind the Beermen’s Washington while teammate and prized import Simpson fell exactly just 86 votes short next to now a two-time winner Gabe Freeman, who accumulated 1358 votes.

“You know, it could’ve gone either way; they probably saw it from the outside, I can’t see myself from the outside, they probably saw something else that I couldn’t see,” said Simpson, who had a monster game with 28 points to go along with 21 boards.

The loss should have been particularly stinging for Simpson. One of the voting components for the individual awards curiously only filled up one name when it came to the Best Import balloting. A second place vote would’ve been worth 150 points and if the TV panel had filled up its slots, Simpson could’ve been the No. 2 choice and would’ve overtaken Freeman.

But the sleek Aces reinforcement has other targets in mind.

“Right now, all I have to do is to go and get that championship, leave it out there and do my best,” the six-foot-seven center added.

The Aces have taken a 1-0 series lead in this best-of-seven showdown against a Beermen squad with plethora of talent.

Alaska knows the importance of having won the first game of the championship series– that head start to get things going for the team.

“This game one victory is very important, coach said whoever won game one, 68 percent of the time wins the championship,” said Simpson.

And as far as the accolades may take you, it will always be the title that counts.

“The award would’ve been nice in my resume but our priority here is the championship, so the award will just be a bonus for me,” finished Tenorio, who had 13 points, five boards and eight dimes.