LA Tenorio drives past Qatar’s Mohd Yousuf Mohamed at the height of Gilas’ third-quarter assault at the Asian Games in Incheon. NIÑO JESUS ORBETA
The pool of players hasn’t been announced yet but Barangay Ginebra San Miguel point guard LA Tenorio has taken his name out of consideration for the national team which will compete in the 2015 Fiba Asia Championship in September.
Tenorio, who was a key component of the previous Gilas Pilipinas team which earned a trip to Spain for the 2014 Fiba World Cup, said excluding himself from another possible tour of duty for the Philippine team wasn’t an easy decision but it was something he had to do for himself, Ginebra and Gilas as well.
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“I’ve thought about it for a long time. I’ve also talked to my family and close friends about it. And during vacation, I felt that if I continue to play for the national team it would be unfair to both parties (Gilas and Ginebra),” Tenorio said in Filipino in a radio interview on Sports Chat over Sports Radio 918.
“I’ve been with the national team for almost four years and the fatigue factor is evident. It’s evident that my output last season took a dip and that’s the fatigue factor. So I came out with this decision to be fair with both the national team and Ginebra,” Tenorio added.
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From averaging almost 15 points and nearly six assists per game in his first season with Ginebra, Tenorio’s numbers went down to just 10 points and 3.8 assists per game last season.
“In four years, it’s only now that I get to experience having more than a 10-day rest during the offseason. In the last three years, I know for a fact that I only have a maximum of 10 days to rest.”
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Aside from fatigue, Tenorio, 31, also revealed that an elbow injury has been bothering him.
“My elbow hasn’t healed completely and I’m not getting any younger. If I go on playing for Gilas I won’t be as effective as well and it’s unfair to them. I won’t also be effective with Ginebra so it’s also unfair to them. So it’s time to focus on one,” he said.
Tenorio couldn’t have chosen a better time to concentrate solely on Ginebra after the team underwent a major coaching change with the appointment of Tim Cone.
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The most popular team in the PBA hasn’t given its diehard fans a reason to celebrate for a long time now with its last championship dating back to 2008.
And Tenorio knows that with him being able to take a much-needed break and come out with fresh legs in October when the new season starts is something that will be of great help not only for himself but also for Ginebra and its championship-starving fans.
“I also put into consideration the tremendous demand at Ginebra. The fans’ demand for me is very high. And when we lose, even my family is affected by the criticisms of the fans.”
The former Ateneo star stressed that his days of wearing the country’s colors are not over yet.
“I’m just taking a leave of absence from the national team for now. If my name gets called again next year, I’m ready to play. Playing for the national team is close to my heart.” CFC