Another Finals MVP Plum: Tenorio Makes Sacrifices Worth It

"I only asked the Lord for an all-Filipino championship but He also gave me a bonus," LA Tenorio said during the awarding ceremony.

That bonus, of course, was the Finals Most Valuable Player (MVP) award after the Barangay Ginebra Gin Kings won its first Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Philippine Cup championship in 13 years. Incidentally, Tenorio was still playing for the San Miguel Beermen- the same team Ginebra beat for the 2006-2007 Philippine Cup title.

On Wednesday, LA Tenorio had 10 points, six assists, two rebounds, and a steal but more than the numbers, his timeless ability to came through for the Gin Kings in crucial moments has what allowed the team to finally beat the TNT Tropang Giga, 82-78 in Game Five of the best-of-seven series. His final two assists of the Clark bubble conference helped push TNT away. For good.

For the series, Tenorio averaged 13 points, six assists, two rebounds, and a steal. On Sunday, Tenorio led the way with 22 points in a 98-88 victory that buried TNT in a deep hole. He scored eight points in the final 2:29 of the game including a pair of three-pointers after RR Pogoy brought TNT within three points. Tinyente also scored five points via the free-throw line in the final minute of Game Two. As they all say, it's never about how you start a game. It's about how you close and for LA Tenorio, closing out games is what he does best. That's why he already has six PBA championships plus four PBA Finals MVP awards under his belt.

This is a 36-year old point guard out of the Ateneo basketball program who hasn't missed a single PBA game since being drafted. This is a floor general who entered the Clark bubble despite coming off an appendectomy two weeks to the start of the bubble.

It wasn't easy but in the end, Tenorio's sacrifices were worth it as he gets to go home to his family after two and a half months of being away. Together with another championship and a Finals MVP plum.   

Photo is from Rappler