Ginebra coach Tim Cone with his coaching staff including guard LA Tenorio. –PBA IMAGES
ANTIPOLO CITY — Coach Tim Cone and Barangay Ginebra are hoping to repay LA Tenorio’s continued commitment to the team despite battling colon cancer by showing an effort that the PBA’s resident Iron Man has been known for.
“It can be kind of corny to say that we’re doing this for LA. Of course, we’re doing this for LA,” Cone said after the Gin Kings’ 121-112 win over the San Miguel Beermen on Friday in the PBA Governors’ Cup semifinal opener played before Tenorio watching from the bench.
“It doesn’t need to be said [and] I don’t think it needs to be repeated. He honors us by our presence. Hopefully, we can honor him by continuing to play hard and playing his image.”
Ginebra came away with a victory in Tenorio’s first public appearance since announcing that he had been diagnosed of having the disease.
While Tenorio is due for further treatment after undergoing surgery recently, that has not prevented him from being involved in Ginebra’s bid to repeat as champions of the season-ending tournament.
In fact, Tenorio has been placed temporarily as part of the coaching staff until he can make a possible return in October.
“It’s a great honor that he is here with us and doing things that he wants to do while he’s doing things he needs to do,” I feel honored that he’s spending his time with us. He’s so valuable. He’s our leader.
“He’s just a natural-born leader. I just find it really selfless on his part to be here and I think the whole team feels that,” he added.
WATCH: LA Tenorio leaves the Ynares Center on his customized Vespa motorcycle after Barangay Ginebra’s Game 1 win in the PBA Governors’ Cup semifinals.
Tenorio politely declined to be interviewed as he’s scheduled to meet a priest at Antipolo church. | @jonasterradoINQ pic.twitter.com/PFVpntic4a
— INQUIRER Sports (@INQUIRERSports) March 24, 2023
Tenorio politely declined to be interviewed after the win as he was scheduled to meet with a priest to get a spiritual perspective about his condition.
He left the venue by hopping on his Vespa scooter, another sign that he can still do normal things despite dealing with adversity.