“When you first look at him, because of his size, you’ll say: “It’s impossible,” Tenorio told Filipino mediamen Wednesday night (Thursday morning in Manila) after Barea almost singlehandedly waylaid Gilas Pilipinas in a 77-73 victory by Puerto Rico in the Fiba World Cup at Centro Deportivo San Pablo.
“But after playing against him and after seeing what he can do, you’ll realize that he’s got it all,” the 5-foot-8 Tenorio said. “From talent, to smarts to quickness, it’s a mixture of everything. Now I know why he’s still in the NBA.”
Barea, whom Tenorio said stands no more than an inch taller than him, dismantled the entire guard rotation of Team Philippines when the Puerto Ricans booted the Filipinos out of contention.
Tenorio drew Barea as a game-long assignment and he knew that stopping the Minnesota Timberwolves point guard will get half of the job done for the gritty Filipinos.
And like the way the entire PH team has made heads turn here even with a 0-4 card, Tenorio held his own against Barea, and would have won his personal battle if Barea hadn’t come up with his late-game heroics.
“It’s a very rare opportunity that you get to play against an NBA veteran who’s really good,” Tenorio said. “It was also a challenge for me.”
It was fitting that Tenorio came up with his breakout game—18 points while hounding Barea—after just 2.6 points per contest in the first three Gilas losses.
That performance earned Barea’s respect for his counterparts.
But Tenorio was the one who felt the brunt of it all, having to shadow Barea and contribute offensively made him feel just one thing afterwards: “Eto, bugbog na bugbog ang katawan.”