LA Tenorio explains his love for the Spurs

I have a theory. It’s not a bulletproof theory. But I believe in it nonetheless. Smart NBA fans love the Spurs. They started loving the Spurs even before loving the Spurs became fashionable. Not to say that fans of other teams are less clever. Very far from it. If you loved the Sacramento Kings, I’d respect you just as much. To be devoted to exciting teams through the very thick and the very thin is just as admirable.

However, it takes intellectual fortitude to stick to a team once branded as old and boring. Not enough glam. Not enough bling. They’re neither Hollywood nor New York enough. They’re just the San Antonio Spurs. Based on my theory, Ginebra point guard and Spurs believer LA Tenorio is an astute NBA fan. Because for LA, the Spurs just being stubbornly effective like the Spurs has always been more than enough.

MH: When did you start cheering for the Spurs?

LT: Nag-start yan noong nag-retire si (Michael) Jordan. Of course noong Jordan era, Chicago Bulls tayo diba? Ewan ko kung sino hindi nag-Chicago Bulls noon. But after the Michael Jordan era, nag-San Antonio Spurs na ako. Because Tony Parker was there. That was when Tony Parker joined them. There was a coach before who told me na panoorin ko si Parker. So noong pinanood ko, sabi ko, ‘Bilis nito ah.’ And he was already using his teardrop. Nandoon na yun.

MH: So when you started cheering for the Spurs, were there other teams na parang nagugustuhan mo rin or Spurs lang talaga?

LT: Wala. Spurs na talaga ako dati pa. Hindi ko nga alam kung bakit eh. (Laughs.) Kasi sinasabi nila yung Spurs ang baduy-baduy. Which kung panunuorin mo talaga sila, baduy ng Spurs talaga dati eh. Especially noong time nila David Robinson. Walang highlights talaga. Ngayon na lang because may mga batang players na but before, wala talaga.

MH: So paano mo sila nagustuhan if ikaw mismo tingin mo baduy sila?

LT: Kasi ako ‘pag nanunood ako ng NBA, I’m not into highlights with LeBron, Kobe and everything. I look at the game itself kung paano sila maglaro. I watch kung ano nangyayari sa loob ng court. Parang coach ba. Ito yung simpleng basketball lang na very effective, very fundamental. Siguro it’s because of the coach din and sa system ng coach. Ganoon lang sila – pasa-pasa, poste-poste, space-the-floor. Parang read and react offense lang sila. And when I played for Tim Cone and one of Coach Tim’s favorite coaches was Gregg Popovich, mas lalo ko pa silang na-appreciate. The more na pinapanood ko sila, the more ko sila na-a-appreciate.

MH: Let’s go through the Spurs stars one by one. There are so many talented point guards now. Russell Westbrook. Steph Curry. Chris Paul. Ang dami eh. But when you watch them play, ikaw ba sinasabi mo sa sarili mo ‘kay Tony Parker pa rin ako?

LT: Oo. Kasi I can differentiate them. Like Steph Curry and Kyrie Irving, madalas they create para sa kanila. It’s not within the system. When they create, they’re more like the one-on-one type playground-style basketball players. Pero sobrang galing nila talaga. Magaling sila mag-dribble with the crossover moves and everything. And they’re all scoring point guards. Even Tony Parker is a scoring point guard. But the way Tony Parker scores, it’s within the system. He doesn’t need to do all the exhibition-style dribbling before he scores or before he passes. Very simple basketball. If he can drive, he’ll drive. If he’s hot, that’s the only his teammates will look for him.

MH: What makes Manu Ginobili special?

LT: Like Tony, Manu is effective because of the system also. Si Manu Ginobili parang si Dwyane Wade yan eh. Go hard siya. Shifty. He’s also a threat from the outside. The good thing about Manu, he can defend also. Anything happens in a split-second alam niya gagawin niya.

MH: If there’s a reason why fans describe the Spurs as boring, it’s probably because of Tim Duncan. Do you agree?

LT: Oo eh. Ang boring niya panoorin eh. (Laughs.) But he has footwork. He’s smart. He can read the situation. He’s not forcing his shots. He’s not looking to score right away. He’s the type of big man na gusto mong maging kakampi. If you know your basketball, you want Duncan on your team. Siya talaga naging anchor ng San Antonio. That’s why they’re successful.

MH: What about Kawhi Leonard? Is he the future of the franchise?

LT: He is.

MH: He is?

LT: Yes. He is. Siya yung magiging next Manu Ginobili. The Spurs just need to find someone to take over Leonard’s role when Kawhi becomes the next Manu. He can defend. He can go hard to the basket. Shifty din. He can also shoot from the outside. Maybe he’s not as fancy as Manu but he’s very effective.

MH: Is Gregg Popovich the kind of coach you’d want to play for?

LT: Yes. I don’t know him but I think he’s a great motivator. When I watch the NBA and I listen to the WIRED segment, naririnig ko ano sinasabi ni Popovich kay Parker. He knows what to say. That’s why Tony Parker is playing like that.

MH: You look at the West now. Ang daming malakas. Memphis. Golden State. The Clippers. Are you surprised that the Spurs are not the top team in the West so far?

LT: Well, nagugulat ako kasi they used to be number one in the eliminations all the time. Ang tagal na nilang magkasama. I think kalkulado na nila kung ano gagawin. They will peak at the right time. Parang San Mig Coffee yan eh. Idol talaga ni Tim Cone si Popovich eh. (Laughs.) But I’m okay na ganito lang muna Spurs basta they’re above .500 and then maybe finish in the top three at the end of the regular season. I’m okay with that.

MH: Will the Spurs repeat as NBA champions?

LT: Siyempre. Die-hard ako diyan eh. Pero mahihirapan sila. There so many strong teams in the West. Yung Memphis, kontra-pelo sa kanila. Dallas din. Pero tingin ko kaya nila.