MANILA, Philippines --Alaska chief playmaker LA Tenorio hopes to come out strong from a two-day break and provide the Aces needed boost in Game Four tomorrow of their best-of-seven showdown with the Talk n Text Tropang Texters for the KFC PBA Philippine Cup championship.
Alaska coach Tim Cone has stressed that the guard match-up involving Tenorio will be a key factor in the series.
The Aces won the first two games with Tenorio averaging 22 points and lost the third game with the former Ateneo sentinel held scoreless by the Tropang Texters.
“I think it’s a combination of their defense and fatigue on my part,” Tenorio told The STAR on his Game Three meltdown.
“They came out with a lot of energy which we couldn’t match. We’re tired and if one is tired, it’s hard to think. They came out determined and well prepared. They put pressure and really did a good job,” Tenorio added.
Jarred Dillinger, Jason Castro and Jimmy Alapag alternated in shutting down the Aces’ 5-foot-9 pointguard.
“They did something different in Game Three. Each time I had possession, I felt there’s always another guy behind me. I didn’t get a good shot, limited to five field-goal attempts,” he said.
Tenorio, however, promised to bounce back in Game Four, believing he will be re-charged by the two-day break.
“I don’t think it will happen again. The break will help us,” he said.
Cone believed the whole team and Tenorio in particular got tired playing a third game in five days in the series supported by Alaska, Talk n Text, Dickies, Araneta Center, Solar Sports and Gateway Cineplex.
“LA had a hard time getting started. I saw in the game he was fatigued. I planned on limiting his minutes. When we fell behind I gave him the first sub. When we really fell behind I just picked and chose when to play him. I just felt that it was worthless extending him. We just felt he needed the extra time on the bench. Once we fell behind it was useless for us to continue to try to push him. We were better off getting him ready for Game Four,” said Cone.