His recent stint with Gilas Pilipinas might have changed his course in the PBA.
The PBA announced on Thursday that LA Tenorio has been activated for the Barangay Ginebra San Miguel in lieu of Aljon Mariano.
It's a welcome development for the Barangay after The Gineral was diagnosed with stage three colon cancer earlier this year.
Several intense therapies later, he was declared cancer-free by September in one of the most inspiring and feel-good sports stories of the year.
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Tenorio, however, admitted that things might not be the same when he does return to the court for Ginebra, which could be as early as this Sunday against the Terrafirma Dyip.
"Hopefully, it's gonna be the same LA," Tenorio told reporters on Thursday after practice.
But he did concede the fact that he's already 39 years old.
"We're aging already," acknowledged Tenorio. "But I'm gonna try my best to be the same. I'll try to do my role."
Now, as to what role that is exactly has yet to be made public. But things could be different for Tenorio, who had a taste of coaching as an assistant under coach Tim Cone during Gilas Pilipinas' Asian Games gold medal campaign.
"Coach Tim has a different role for me. Compared to before, we have a lot of firepower and young players already," Tenorio explained. "I came from a coaching staff point of view. Probably, kung ganun magiging role ko sa team, I'll do it."
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Ginebra is currently sitting on a 3-1 record. With fellow guards like Scottie Thompson, Maverick Ahanmisi, Stanley Pringle, and Nards Pinto, Tenorio will most probably play limited minutes at first.
But no matter the role, the return of Tinyente will surely be a shot in the arm for Team Never-Say-Die.
(With reports from Martie Bautista, News5)
(PM)