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After holding off Phoenix, 96-87 on Wednesday, Ginebra gave itself a shot to finish at the top of the 2016 PBA Governors’ Cup eliminations.
And LA Tenorio knows the Gin Kings won’t take that chance for granted.
“Same approach pa rin going to the game on Sunday against TNT,” he said.
At 8-2, Ginebra can still force a tie for the top-seed if it beats the TNT, which stands at 9-1. While the game is just for playoff positioning, Tenorio is expecting both teams to go all out.
READ: Ginebra repulses Phoenix, eyes top seed
“We really have to learn how to play the same way kung ano man ang stake sa game na yun. Kung paano yung laro namin, yung sistema namin, dapat ituloy lang namin, especially sa last game namin,” he said. “I’m sure ganun din ang TNT. They won’t play loose. They want to play the game the same way, especially going to the playoffs. We will not let down. We’ll still play aggressive basketball, kung ano ang tinatakbo ng team namin.”
Tenorio admits that he’s seeing the product of Ginebra’s hardwork under the system of multititled head coach Tim Cone with the Kings playing more consistently than before.
“Slowly, nakikita ko na,” he said. “I’m very confident with my teammates and the coaching staff that we have, even though pilay yung team namin. Nakikita ko yung fire sa mga mata, yung gutom, yun ang importante.”
Though the squad lost center Greg Slaughter for the season due to a partial ACL injury, Tenorio is still optimistic that things can still go the Gin Kings’ way in the playoffs if they stick to the game plan.
“Definitely, malaking factor na nawala si Greg going to the playoffs, but that kind of situations, di natin kontrolado. We really have to help each other and gawin kung ano yung dapat naming gawin. There’s no one player na mag-fill in sa shoes ni Greg. Kailangan naming magtulungan, just like in this game balanced scoring kami. Pwedeng maging motivation pa nga yun na wala si Greg eh,” he said.
But heading into the crucial stretch of the conference, Tenorio wants the Kings to give more attention to defense if they want to end their eight-year title drought.
“Heading to the playoffs, double effort pa. Marami pa kaming lapses, especially sa defensive end,” he said.
“Defense will win games, especially in the playoffs. Yung offense namin, sumusunod lang talaga pag nakaka-stop kami, doon kami nakakatakbo. Yun ang culture na gustong ibigay ni coach Tim sa team na ito. I know him, sa Alaska ganun din. It doesn’t matter yung opensa as long as we play defense.”