Though the road to the PBA Philippine Cup finals ended in heartbreak, Barangay Ginebra veteran LA Tenorio remains hopeful, drawing strength from the fight his team showed until the very last buzzer.
The Kings fell short in their semifinals series against powerhouse San Miguel Beermen, losing in a tightly contested Game 7, 100-93, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. It was a tough pill to swallow, especially with Ginebra once leading by 11 late in the third quarter before San Miguel stormed back to steal the win.
Despite the sting of the loss, Tenorio—who turned 41 on the same day as the decisive game—chose to focus on the growth and grit his team displayed throughout the conference.
“Marami pa rin kaming nakuhang positives—not just from this game, but the whole season,” Tenorio said post-game. “These are lessons we can take with us moving forward.”
Ginebra’s failure to reach the finals marks a first for them this PBA Season 49 after making it to the championship rounds in the previous two conferences. Still, their journey was anything but uneventful.
Tenorio himself was a major reason the series reached a Game 7. In a vintage performance in Game 6, he exploded for 11 points in the final seven minutes—capping it off with a cold-blooded three-pointer that lifted the Kings to a thrilling 88-87 win.
But despite the heroic effort, Game 7 slipped through their fingers—another painful defeat in a win-or-go-home scenario, echoing their Game 7 heartbreak against TNT in the Commissioner’s Cup finals earlier this year.
“Sayang,” Tenorio admitted, clearly disappointed. “But at some point, the young guys need to learn how to overcome these Game 7 losses. We can’t keep saying, ‘sayang.’ We have to find a way to change the result.”
Still, the team captain refused to let the season’s end define their journey.
“I’m proud of the team. We made it to a Game 7 again. Not everyone gets that chance,” he said. “That experience—playing in pressure-filled, high-stakes games—that’s how you grow as a player and as a team.”
As the season wraps up, questions now swirl about Tenorio’s future. After a decorated career and recent health challenges, he’s unsure if he’ll be back for another run.
“Honestly, I don’t know what’s next,” he admitted. “The next few weeks, next few months—I’ll take my time to think it over.”
Whether or not this marks the final chapter of Tenorio’s storied career, one thing is clear: his leadership, resilience, and unshakable belief in Ginebra continue to inspire both teammates and fans alike.