LA Tenorio remains one the league’s best closers.
And as if he needed any validations to that glittering stature, the veteran guard took command and orchestrated Barangay Ginebra’s march to the PBA Commissioner’s Cup semifinals.
Tenorio, 38, put on a pair of clutch performances as the Gin Kings swept hard-fighting Northport in their best-of-three quarterfinal duel behind averages of 13 points on 53-percent clip (8/15) from downtown along with 4.0 assists, and 1.5 rebounds.
The seven-time champion and four-time Finals MVP earned the Cignal Play-PBA Press Corps Player of the Week for Dec. 7-10 entering the semis.
The seasoned floor general saved his best for last in Game 2, draining five big points in the last two minutes as Ginebra fended off Northport’s uprising 99-93.
Ginebra led by as many as 97-85, but needed Tenorio’s heroics at crunch time after Northport roared to within 93-97.
His freebies in the last 20 seconds virtually iced it for the Gin Kings as he finished with 14 points, three assists, a rebound, and a steal.
The league’s “Ironman” also had 12 points, two boards, and five assists in Ginebra’s 118-110 win in Game 1.
