Barangay Ginebra Gin Kings’ guard LA Tenorio reacts after nailing the game-winner that forced a Game 7 against San Miguel Beermen within the PBA Philippine Cup semifinals. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
Barangay Ginebra needed something big to pull San Miguel Beer from having a foot within the PBA Philippine Cup Finals to marching straight right into a Game 7.
LA Tenorio, the little guy on the court, provided just that—and a moment no person who was at Smart Araneta Coliseum on Sunday is more likely to forget.
READ: PBA: LA Tenorio delivers ‘miracle’ as Ginebra forces Game 7 vs SMB
“Miracles do occur,” coach Tim Cone said, still shaking his head moments after the ultimate buzzer on an 88-87 Game 6 victory that squared their semifinal series one last time. “We were grasping for straws all game long.”
Tenorio knocked down the game-winning triple for the Kings, whose battle for a Finals berth with the Beermen boils right down to one last game.
“[LA gave us] quite a bit greater than just that big shot, there have been plays before that that he kept us in the sport,” Cone said.
HIGHLIGHTS: 2025 PBA Philippine Cup Semifinals – Game 6 – July 6
Ginebra trailed by as many as 16 and was down by seven, 78-71, with 8:34 left in the sport before it summoned that “Never Say Die” spirit the team has historically been related to.
And at the tip of that dramatic comeback was Tenorio, the 39-year-old guard who overcame colon cancer two years ago. With 3:53 remaining, Tenorio brought the Gin Kings back from the brink as he buried a cold-blooded triple that tied the sport at 83.
And that triple can have saved Ginebra on Sunday. It was that shot, in any case, that made sure Tenorio can be on the ground for the ultimate play.
“You recognize I’ll be honest, we were originally going to take LA out but he made a 3 after which he made one other play and it was like we will’t take him out at this point,” Cone said. “And RJ (Abarrientos) and Scottie (Thompson) were sitting on the scorer’s table and so we [told them] … go in for someone else.”
‘College tuition’ shots
Barangay Ginebra Gin Kings’ guard LA Tenorio reacts after nailing the game-winner that forced a Game 7 against San Miguel Beermen within the PBA Philippine Cup semifinals. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
Still, the Beermen responded. Buckets by June Mar Fajardo and CJ Perez reclaimed an 87-85 edge and arrange what looked like a heartbreak finish for Ginebra.
Tenorio saved them from that.
“Like coach Tim said, miracles do occur—not only on this game but in my personal life,” Tenorio said, reflecting on his journey back to the court after his cancer battle.
Tenorio finished with 11 points, two rebounds and two assists, nevertheless it was that one shot that will likely be replayed for years to return.
“He’s made shots like that throughout his whole profession and I’ve been the beneficiary of those shots,” Cone said. “He’s put my kids through college doing those sort of things so nobody appreciates it greater than I do.”
Thompson delivered a near triple-double with 17 points, 16 rebounds and eight assists—and, remarkably, zero turnovers.
On the opposite end, Fajardo’s 21 points and 16 rebounds nearly carried San Miguel across the finish line. Rodney Brondial added 12 points and 12 rebounds, however the Beermen couldn’t land the ultimate blow.