Now ‘cancer-free,’ Tenorio set for return to Ginebra practice

LA Tenorio is grateful for his recovery. —INSPIRE SPORTS ACADEMY PHOTO

After being given a clean bill of health by doctors after battling cancer for the past six months, LA Tenorio’s immediate return to full basketball activities is also not out of the question.“They told him that within days, he can start practicing,” coach Tim Cone said on Tuesday after sharing the news that Tenorio showed no traces of the life-threatening disease in his latest visit to Singapore.

It was in the Lion City where Tenorio underwent chemotherapy sessions after revealing that he had been diagnosed with Stage 3 colon cancer.

Plenty of support

The condition forced Tenorio to end his record streak of 744 consecutive games and focus on being as durable as his status of being the Philippine Basketball Association’s perennial “Iron Man.”

“God is good!” Tenorio posted on X as he prepared to head back to Manila and return to Inspire Sports Academy where Cone handles Gilas Pilipinas’ buildup for the Hangzhou Asian Games (Asiad).
Tenorio serves as one of Cone’s staff at Gilas, one of his gigs during his recovery period.

A video from one Gilas practice that was opened to the public showed Tenorio even helping out in walking through one of Cone’s plays.

The former Gilas mainstay was not alone during his recent Singapore trip.

His wife Chesca, along with former Ginebra teammates Mark Caguioa and Paolo Taha, now with NorthPort, were also part of Tenorio’s last chemo session.

Cone said Tenorio’s full recovery is welcome news amid a number of issues he and Gilas dealt with in the past days.

The likelihood of four players being barred from joining the Hangzhou Asiad prompted hastily made changes in order to speed up Gilas’ preparation.

“It’s all good news now. It’s been a roller coaster,” said Cone. INQ