Tenorio saves best for last as Alaska escapes Barangay Ginebra
source: gmanews.tv
L.A. Tenorio, Alaska’s clutch player, again to the rescue.
On Sunday, the cerebral point guard saved the Aces from the brink of defeat, hitting the go-ahead three-pointer in the final 3.4 seconds and coming away with a big stop at the other end to steer Alaska to a tense 95-94 win in the main game of the PBA Commissioner’s Cup at the Astrodome.
The Aces, who lost grip of a 26-point, second quarter lead, appeared on the threshold of a huge endgame collapse after the rejuvenated Kings wiped away a five-point deficit to take a 94-92 lead with 25.5 seconds left on a fast break lay-up by Willie Miller.
But Tenorio kept himself composed. He nailed a three-pointer against the outstretched arms of former Ateneo teammate Enrico Villanueva from the left quarter court to restore the lead back to the Aces, 95-94.
Tenorio capped his endgame brilliance with a steal off Ginebra import Nate Brumfield, allowing the Aces to escape with the win and join Rain or Shine in the early lead of this short, import-laced conference.
“Actually, it was a broken play. But I have to take it dahil nag-switch sila sa defense," admitted Tenorio of his game-winning shot that gave him 18 points for the night.
Import L.D. Williams paced the Aces with 25 points, 17 of them coming in the first half when Alaska took command, 37-15, a lead which eventually ballooned to as high as 26.
But behind its phalanx of shooting guards led by Miller, Tubid and Caguioa, plus some inside plays courtesy of Brumnfield, Ginebra cut the deficit to a manageable level, 44-53 at the break.
“Yun ang pinag-usapan namin during halftime. It always happens to us when we have a big lead," said Tenorio, recalling the same incident against Ginebra during the deciding Game 5 of their Philippine Cup quarterfinals last year when they lost to the Kings after leading by as much as 20 in the first half.
“Lesson learned para sa amin `yun," added Tenorio, who has bailed the Aces out of danger many times in past games.
For a while, it appeared Alaska is again bound to suffer the same fate when Ginebra erased an 87-92 deficit in the final two minutes after scoring seven unanswered points — capped by a completed Mike Cortez three-point play — to wrest the upper hand, 94-92.
Good thing Tenorio was there to save the day for the Aces.
“Every single day, we always remind ourselves of that loss to Ginebra," said the former Ateneo playmaker. “Masarap at masaya itong panalo namin against Ginebra, pero mahaba pa ang tournament."
Brumfield topscored with 24 points for the Kings, who fell to 1-1. - RCJ, GMA News
The scores:
Alaska 95 - Williams 25, De Vance 18, Tenorio 18, Baguio 15, Custodio 7, Thoss 5, Borboran 4, Dela Cruz 3, Dulay 0, Eman 0.
Ginebra 94 - Brumfield 24, Miller 22, Tubid 15, Caguioa 9, Villanueva 8, Intal 7, Cortez 7, Menk 2, Wilson 0, Hatfield 0.
Quarters: 37-17, 53-44, 77-73, 95-94
L.A. Tenorio, Alaska’s clutch player, again to the rescue.
On Sunday, the cerebral point guard saved the Aces from the brink of defeat, hitting the go-ahead three-pointer in the final 3.4 seconds and coming away with a big stop at the other end to steer Alaska to a tense 95-94 win in the main game of the PBA Commissioner’s Cup at the Astrodome.
The Aces, who lost grip of a 26-point, second quarter lead, appeared on the threshold of a huge endgame collapse after the rejuvenated Kings wiped away a five-point deficit to take a 94-92 lead with 25.5 seconds left on a fast break lay-up by Willie Miller.
But Tenorio kept himself composed. He nailed a three-pointer against the outstretched arms of former Ateneo teammate Enrico Villanueva from the left quarter court to restore the lead back to the Aces, 95-94.
Tenorio capped his endgame brilliance with a steal off Ginebra import Nate Brumfield, allowing the Aces to escape with the win and join Rain or Shine in the early lead of this short, import-laced conference.
“Actually, it was a broken play. But I have to take it dahil nag-switch sila sa defense," admitted Tenorio of his game-winning shot that gave him 18 points for the night.
Import L.D. Williams paced the Aces with 25 points, 17 of them coming in the first half when Alaska took command, 37-15, a lead which eventually ballooned to as high as 26.
But behind its phalanx of shooting guards led by Miller, Tubid and Caguioa, plus some inside plays courtesy of Brumnfield, Ginebra cut the deficit to a manageable level, 44-53 at the break.
“Yun ang pinag-usapan namin during halftime. It always happens to us when we have a big lead," said Tenorio, recalling the same incident against Ginebra during the deciding Game 5 of their Philippine Cup quarterfinals last year when they lost to the Kings after leading by as much as 20 in the first half.
“Lesson learned para sa amin `yun," added Tenorio, who has bailed the Aces out of danger many times in past games.
For a while, it appeared Alaska is again bound to suffer the same fate when Ginebra erased an 87-92 deficit in the final two minutes after scoring seven unanswered points — capped by a completed Mike Cortez three-point play — to wrest the upper hand, 94-92.
Good thing Tenorio was there to save the day for the Aces.
“Every single day, we always remind ourselves of that loss to Ginebra," said the former Ateneo playmaker. “Masarap at masaya itong panalo namin against Ginebra, pero mahaba pa ang tournament."
Brumfield topscored with 24 points for the Kings, who fell to 1-1. - RCJ, GMA News
The scores:
Alaska 95 - Williams 25, De Vance 18, Tenorio 18, Baguio 15, Custodio 7, Thoss 5, Borboran 4, Dela Cruz 3, Dulay 0, Eman 0.
Ginebra 94 - Brumfield 24, Miller 22, Tubid 15, Caguioa 9, Villanueva 8, Intal 7, Cortez 7, Menk 2, Wilson 0, Hatfield 0.
Quarters: 37-17, 53-44, 77-73, 95-94
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjBajEy27F6nC_N3IobAP5D6reda554oGdNA07LRVYXrqQiqfFkP8uvWJZ3ETampNjQZkUPhSD35XOh90Dv8L3L8NM0HA2NjzIpcYevxmcEYpIjsiPDQQaJ1y0b4d8gAKMn4gfUKSBzF1k/s400/Untitled-1.gif
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
Comments
Post a Comment