PBA: LA Tenorio saves Barangay Ginebra from elimination

LA Tenorio came through with the biggest baskets late to carry Barangay Ginebra San Miguel to a 110-102 victory over Talk ‘N Text in their PBA Governors’ Cup knockout match on Tuesday at the SMART-Araneta Coliseum.

The Gin Kings were staring at a furious Tropang Texters rally that cut Ginebra’s 21-point lead to just three points. To make matters worse, Ginebra’s leader Mark Caguioa fouled out with 2:53 left in the game.

Tenorio, however, was unperturbed.

“Ako na ang bahala,” Tenorio told Caguioa before scoring seven points in Ginebra’s 9-4 run to end the game and book a quarterfinals spot against the top-seed Petron Blaze Boosters.

The cerebral point guard said he took Caguioa’s absence as a cue to take over.

“It’s about time mag-take charge ulit ako,” said Tenorio, noting how he and the rest of the Gin Kings stepped up when Caguioa was injured in the Commissioner’s Cup to make a run to the finals.

Tenorio finished with 24 points, 10 assists, six rebounds, and three steals to lead Ginebra to the playoffs. Import Dior Lowhorn added 31 points and 10 rebounds while Chris Ellis was a surprise package for the Gin Kings, posting 19 points and 12 rebounds.

Caguioa had 18 points and five rebounds before fouling out.

Ginebra controlled the game early with a zone defense that dared Talk ‘N Text to shoot from the outside. That allowed the Gin Kings, who were playing in their third game in six days, to conserve their energy and build on their advantage.

“Napaganda sa amin na na-postpone yung game yesterday,” said Ginebra coach Ato Agustin, as the match was originally scheduled on Monday before being moved because of bad weather.

Talk ‘N Text came roaring back in the third period behind Larry Fonacier, who finished with a career-high 31 points, and import Courtney Fells, who scored 19 of his 26 points in the period. The Tropang Texters stayed within striking distance, but could not get over the hump as they failed to make it to the quarterfinals for the first time in four years.

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