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For the second straight time, Ginebra point guard LA Tenorio delivered the biggest basket to beat Star.
Last conference on Christmas Day, Tenorio buried the buzzer-beating triple to lift the Kings over the Hotshots in overtime and on Sunday night, the veteran sank the go-ahead jumper with only 28.8 seconds in a 92-87 thriller.
“It’s just a coincidence because they gambled again,” Tenorio said of his game-winner as he finished the game with 12 points, four rebounds, and three assists.
But more than the victory, Tenorio is looking at the bigger picture.
“More than the shot, I think it was the character of the team defensively. I think this is the kind of game that we needed to win to build our character going into the playoffs and being a great team.”
Tenorio said that defense, which is often times overlooked in favor of the triangle offense coach Tim Cone employs, is one of the biggest things the team has focused on in the offseason.
“We showed our willingness to play defense especially our big guys,” he said. “It’s a big lift for us because they will have something to fear when they drive to the basket. That’s the big difference now especially this game.”
The victory also highlighted the team’s quest for cohesion, with everyone giving what they can whenever their number is called by Cone.
“We’re all making sacrifices, I personally am. We all know that all of us in the team are scorers or can shoot every time especially our starting five but someone has to make the sacrifice and take less shots.”
“For me, whenever there’s an opportunity, I’ll take it. But most of the time, my contribution is really to orchestrate the offense and play defense. As long as we’re winning and doing the right thing, I’m not going to think about my offense. Of course, I have to be a threat also, but that’s the sacrifice that I have to do for the team.”
One of the team’s leaders, Tenorio hopes that the back-to-back wins will serve as just the start of greater things to come.
“Magandang sign yung kaninang game . Sana lang talaga maging consistent kami. It always starts on defense eh,” he said.