Veteran LA Tenorio serves as mentor to the Ginebra Gin Kings young guns, RJ Abarrientos included.
LA Tenorio huddled his teammates before Game 5 of the PBA Season 49 Commissioner’s Cup semifinals between Ginebra and NorthPort at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Cubao.
The Gin Kings captain’s message was clear: their previous loss should only fuel the Gin Kings in Friday’s match, March 7.
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“Noong huddle namin before the game, Kuya LA said to us na 'yung pagkatalo namin iyong magbu-boost para sa game ngayon,” said RJ Abarrientos, who logged a double-double with his 20 points and 10 assists on top of four rebounds and two steals.
LA Tenorio during the Ginebra Gin Kings' Game 5 joust with the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters in the PBA Season 49 Commissioner's Cup semifinals. | Photo (c) RM Chua/One Sports
The Gin Kings did come out with a chip on their shoulders following their Game 4 loss to the Batang Pier after three easy victories.
They recovered their fire and coasted to a 126-99 win to clinch a seat in the Finals.
Ginebra will face TNT in the Last Dance for the second straight conference.
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While the victory looked easy, Gin Kings coach Tim Cone begged to differ.
“Nothing is very easy in the PBA. It takes a lot of effort. People see a 20-point lead and think it’s easy. But it’s really hard to get a 20-point lead. It’s really hard to blow out teams in this league,” Cone said.
Ginebra broke the game wide open in the third period, where it outgunned the Batang Pier, 35-23.
Jamie Malonzo, who scored 10 of his 20 points in the said quarter, knocked down a three-pointer with 5:52 remaining that gave the Gin Kings its biggest advantage at 89-58.
Justine Brownlee finished with 21 points, 11 rebounds, three assists and three steals.
Meanwhile, reinforcement Kadeem Jack paced NorthPort with 31 points, six rebounds, three assists, a steal and a block.
Allyn Bulanadi had 26 points, while Joshua Munzon had 12 points, seven rebounds, 11 assists and two blocks.
The Scores:
GINEBRA 126 – Brownlee 21, Abarrientos 20, Malonzo 20, J.Aguilar 18, Thompson 14, Rosario 11, Ahanmisi 9, Holt 7, Mariano 2, Pinto 2, Adamos 2, Cu 0, Pessumal 0, R. Aguilar 0.
NORTHPORT 99 – Jack 31, Bulanadi 26, Munzon 12, Taha 10, Tolentino 9, Navarro 9, Onwubere 2, Nelle 0, Flores 0, Cuntapay 0.
Quarterscores: 23-22, 62-53, 97-76, 126-99.