Great players know that they always have to be ready, no matter the time and the place and with the Barangay Ginebra Gin Kings on the verge of elimination, Gin Kings head coach Tim Cone went back to one of his old reliables, who as expected, delivered. 

One could feel the emotion running through LA Tenorio’s veins once the shot went in. It was not just because Tenorio helped Ginebra avoid another heartbreak (at least for now), but also because of the recent developments in his personal life. The eight-time PBA champion has not really figured into the Gin Kings’ rotation not just to give way to Ginebra’s’ younger guards, but also he continues to work his way back following his battle with Stage 3 Colon Cancer. 

This was also on top of Tenorio’s transition into being a mentor. The former member of Gilas Pilipinas has taken on the role of head coach for Batang Gilas and won his first tournament, the FIBA U16 Asia Cup SEABA Qualifiers. 

Having at one point been relegated to the unrestricted free agent list, the four-time PBA Finals MVP has served as a defacto playing assistant coach for the Gin Kings. Many of his teammates are familiar with his exploits in college, the PBA, and even the national team so now they rely on his sage advice as they navigate through their own careers. However, that doesn’t mean he won’t show them what it means to be a professional even at this stage of his career. 

It didn’t matter that Game 6 of the 2025 Honda PBA Philippine Cup semifinals was only his third appearance in the series; Tenorio remained very much involved in the offense. There’s a certain level of trust that comes with experience and knowing how committed a veteran like Tenorio is in practice despite the change in his role. They know he will always be ready to step up and any pass thrown at Tenorio will almost always be the right play. 

Now, the Barangay Ginebra Gin Kings have leveled their 2025 Honda PBA Philippine Cup semifinal series against the San Miguel Beermen. We may or may not see LA Tenorio make another appearance, but best believe he’s set a spark that has reignited the Never Say Die spirit that could propel the Gin Kings to another finals matchup with the Grand Slam-seeking TNT Tropang 5G. 

Hope has a way of turning dreams into reality and while many may see this as a feel-good story for Tenorio, it’s another feather in the cap for someone who has won in every stop he has made.