With LA Tenorio back in the fold, the twice-to-beat Barangay Ginebra San Miguel will open their Philippine Cup playoff campaign against the fifth seed Converge FiberXers.
LA Tenorio is back on Barangay Ginebra’s active roster — just in time for the PBA Season 50 Philippine Cup playoffs.
The Gin Kings made the move ahead of the postseason, reactivating their veteran point guard in place of Von Pessumal on Monday, June 16.
Tenorio had been placed on the unrestricted free agent (UFAWR2S) list last April 29 to fulfill national team duties as head coach of the Gilas Youth squad in the FIBA U16 Asia Cup SEABA Qualifiers — a campaign he and the young Nationals went on to conquer
.
[ALSO READ: Tim Cone praises LA Tenorio, Gilas Youth defensive identity in SEABA Qualifiers domination]
In his absence, Ginebra brought in Jayson David, who made an immediate impact. The former PBA 3x3 standout erupted for a career-high 25 points and nine rebounds in a blowout win over NorthPort, earning praise from no less than head coach Tim Cone.
It’s also a timely move for a Ginebra squad that finished the elimination round with an 8-3 record and winners of six of their final seven games.
Stephen Holt posted a 27-point, 12-rebound double-double power the Gin Kings’ commanding 98–80 win over the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters to close out their preliminaries on a high.
Japeth Aguilar and Jamie Malonzo combined for 33 points and 20 rebounds, helping Ginebra lock up the no. 4 seed and a twice-to-beat advantage.
That sets up a quarterfinal showdown with the fifth-seeded Converge FiberXers, with Game 1 scheduled for Friday, June 20, at Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
[ALSO READ: PBA quarterfinals: Ginebra, Converge duel in Philippine Cup playoffs]
The winner of the series will go on to face either the top-seeded San Miguel Beermen or the defending champion Meralco Bolts in the semifinals.