It was a Christmas miracle for LA Tenorio and Barangay Ginebra as they staged a remarkable comeback to defeat the Magnolia Hotshots, 95-92, on a buzzer-beating three-pointer by Scottie Thompson at the Araneta Coliseum.
This dramatic victory evoked memories of Tenorio's own buzzer-beating heroics against the Hotshots exactly nine years ago, a moment that remains etched in PBA history.
"I was right beside him," Tenorio shared with Inquirer Sports. "I told him, 'Don't leave that spot, you're going to get a treat.'"
The parallels were uncanny – a late-game comeback against a formidable rival, a clutch three-pointer at the buzzer, and Tenorio witnessing the magic unfold from the sidelines. "Same. This game will also be remembered like that time," Tenorio said. "It's almost the same area, the left corner, and I'm just so happy for the team and the win. We needed this win after what happened to us last game, we needed this win."
Ginebra entered the game with a sense of urgency after a disappointing loss to Converge just four nights prior, where they squandered a 17-point lead. Thompson, as usual, was a key contributor, delivering 14 points, five rebounds, and six assists to fuel the Gin Kings' comeback.
For Tenorio, the victory was more than just a win. "Every time we play Manila Clasico or any Christmas game, we really bear in our minds that this game is for the PBA fans," he emphasized. "We want to give them a good game so it doesn't matter if we win or lose, as long as we give them what they deserve to have. That's the best gift we can give to PBA fans."
Ginebra will look to build on this momentum as they face San Miguel Beer on January 5th at the Araneta Coliseum.
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