I remember the day when I learned straight from one of my favorite basketball players, Lewis Alfred Tenorio or LA Tenorio a former San Beda Red Cub, that "basketball and academics are inseperable", I told to myself that I will strive to be like him, smart and athletic at the same time. I was in grade school then and he was in his rookie season for The Ateneo De Manila University Blue Eagles. He was just 5'7 yet he plays bigger than his size. I can really say that he is a typical pinoy basketball player because he has a height of a typical pinoy. After I saw his 32 point performance together with 11 assists against their arch rival De La Salle Green Archers made me say to myself that someday he will be like Johny Abarrientos.
After giving Ateneo its another champioship in 2002 together with Wesley Gonzales, Larry Fonacier, Rich Alvarez and Enrico Villanueva, LA had a hard time duplicating that championship. The year came that he is about to graduate, in that year he entered the PBL and he teamed up with Mac Cardona enroute to winning his first ever PBL crown with the Harbour Centre Portmasters. It was then when he won his first PBL Finals MVP. He gained immense popularity due to his inside out game. Close out on him on the three point area and he will go pass your defense using his superb and excellent dribbling skills. Give him enough space and he will knock down long threes in front of you. He is a menace despite of his short size. That illustrious career in the PBL caught the attention of several agents and talent scouts from the PBA. The most awaited time of LA came when all his dreams which started when he was just a small boy who plays street basketball in the streets of Baclaran while being a gradeschool varsity player at Don Bosco, when he was drafted by a PBA team known for having smart and dependable pointguards, the San Miguel Beermen.
He played with his co-Atenean Olsen Racela. Olsen told LA that he should master the art of being a pointguard for the Beermen because he would be the one to replace him when he retires. But that didn't happen because LA was traded to the Alaska Aces.
Who would have thought that LA would prosper in Alaska. He said early on that he would have a hard time adapting to the style of playing of Alaska. But due to his innate skill and natural instincts as a pointguard he was able to grasp the whole essence of the Triangle offense and the ball movement of the Aces.
In the PBA Fiesta Conference LA stepped up his game. He became a constant source of assists and scoring for the Aces along with Diamond Simpson and Cyrus Baguio. LA became a mythical team member averaging 12 points and 9 assists per game.
In their series against the Ginebra Gin Kings, he made crucial shots for the Aces and he made great pointguard plays in game 5 of that series wherein 5 seconds remaining and the Gin Kings had a 1 point lead when LA moved the ball from one side of the court to the other and he was able to spot Simpson all alone in the shaded lane for the winning basket.
LA showed that he has a heart of stone during crunch time and during the crucial moments of the game. From his very crucial play that sealed their series win against the Gin Kings they have been very good in the Playoffs. They have beaten the number one team during the eliminations, the Talk 'n Text Tropang Texters. LA faught against Jimmy Alapag and he defeated him a dominating way like Chris Paul.
Caoch Tim Cone told once in a PBA press conference that "they need the hard work of LA if they ought to win the PBA Fiesta Conference Title." In other words LA Tenorio is the most important player for the Alaska Aces because he runs the team very well on and off the court.
LA showed to them, his teamates and his coaches even during practices that he wants to deliver. He was their anchor. When the opposing team changes defense LA adjusts his team. He knows how to make crucial passes which are on point when his teamates are free to shoot.
They are currently ahead of the San Miguel Beermen in the finals series of the 2010 PBA Fiesta Conference, 3-2. LA has been very big for the Aces and I believe that he will be the reason why Alaska will once again reign supreme in the PBA.
Here's what LA usually do during his collge days:
His PBA year with Alaska:
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