STRETCHING his streak of consecutive games played in the PBA is no longer the priority of LA Tenorio.
His top priority right now is to complete his recovery from a recent appendectomy procedure, which may be relatively minor to most but gave the PBA’s Ironman a real scare, and do what he can for Ginebra as the Philippine Cup wears on.
“Actually ka-text ko ngayon doctor ko, tinatanong niya sa akin kung kumusta, kung may discharge pang lumalabas,” Tenorio related during the 2OT webcast last Wednesday night, hours after he entered the PBA bubble at the Clark Freeport Zone.
“Meron pa,” added Tenorio. “Ang sabi naman ng doctor ko sa akin, I’m totally okay. Nu’ng nakita niya na nakakatayo na ako sa sarili ko, using ‘yung core ko a little bit, okay na. ‘Yun nga lang, the wound outside. Yun ‘yung kailangan pang pagalingin pa or patuyuin pa.
“It’s really day-to-day. Video call everyday kami ng doctor ko ngayon. Para lang makita niya kung talagang okay na. “
Only after serving out the mandatory two-day quarantine inside his room at the Quest Hotel could Tenorio be allowed to do some exercises. But playing in Ginebra’s game against NLEX on Sunday is currently a remote possibility.
“Hindi ko alam kung aabot ako ng Sunday. Definitely, I’ll be okay in a week. I just have to recover my shape, my game-shape, my body. Kasi bumagsak talaga. Hindi ka nakakakain, hindi ka nakagalaw,” admitted Tenorio.
“I will try. Hopefully, by Friday and Saturday I can do a little biking and treadmill. Hopefully,” added the 36-year-old.
“Sabi naman ni Doc, kaya naman talaga. Two to three weeks parang conservative time ng healing process. I’m on the second stage of my healing already. Kung wala lang discharge na lumalabas….”
Tenorio underwent laparascopic surgery two Fridays ago to remove his swollen appendix.
Although the procedure is minimally invasive, it rattled the PBA’s prime example of durability and endurance.
“It was scary because it was my first major operation. First time ko talaga. For me major na iyon. Hindi naman siya hiniwa, pero still the thought na may inalis sa iyo,” Tenorio said, his voice trailing off.
Even some of Tenorio’s teammates who saw him when he was checking in were asrounded.
“Nagulat nga sila,” related Tenorio. “Sabi nga ni Mark Caguioa): ‘Are you sure you wanna do this?’ Kasi siyempre mentality natin kapag nagkaroon ka ng major operation, di ba?”
Even if he can’t play, Tenorio wants to help his teammates any way he can. Merely showing up in the bubble was his first move.
“Ako mas gusto kong nandito, to see my teammates,” said Tenorio.
“Makita din ng teammates ko na… as one of the leaders of our team, siyempre malaking bagay din sa kanila na makita nilang nandito ako, sumusuporta sa kanila.So malaking bagay iyung suporta, kumabaga nandoon ka, kasama mo team. Whether maglaro ka o hindi, importante nandoon ka. Appearance ko siguro malaking tulong na rin sa kanila iyon.”
Tenorio joked that adrenaline may make him suit up for Sunday’s game, but, turning more serious, stated he is more focused on the long run.
“I might miss a game pero ang importante naman is how we finish this conference. Hopefully, by Monday maka full practice na ako with the team or at least maka-treadmill na ko,” he said.
