PBA: LA Tenorio makes Meralco pay in stunning close-out showing
LA Tenorio and Scottie Thompson of Barangay Ginebra celebrate during the PBA Finals Game 6. PBA PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines–LA Tenorio watched how the enemy’s crosshairs were on Barangay Ginebra’s two foremost weapons—Justin Brownlee and Scottie Thompson.
He made sure that Meralco would pay for that on Friday night.
Tenorio finished with 30 points to seal the Gin Kings’ title defense and help the crowd darlings reassert their mastery over the Bolts with a 103-92 decision at Mall of Asia Arena.
“It just so happens that in games like this, it’s the instinct that matters most,” he told reporters on the heels of a Game 6 victory that hiked the club’s titles to 14 overall.
“In games like this, the X and Os, the game plan hardly matters anymore. The (main) thing is the in-game adjustments,” he went on.
Tenorio actually greased Ginebra’s pull away—scoring 11 points—in the payoff period, ultimately taking the fight out of a plucky Meralco side hoping to break through.
“I just saw an opportunity, since they’re really focusing on Scottie and Justin. And I’ve been waiting for opportunities of that kind,” he said.
It was Tenorio’s finest scoring performance not only in the championship series but also in the entire conference. His previous high was 22, against TNT in the second knockout contest during the quarterfinals.
“This whole series, I’ve been waiting for that, really,” said Tenorio.
