THERE is little danger of LA Tenorio’s “Iron Man” streak in the PBA being cut short by a recent appendectomy procedure.
A source from the PBA bubble inside the Clark Freeport and Economic Zone yesterday told Malaya-Business Insight it would depend on how fast Ginebra’s prized point guard could recover from the laparoscopic procedure he went through last week.
“Hindi naman ‘yung old open procedure na bubuksan ka, tapos tatahiin. Matagal ang recovery time dahil pagagalingin pa ‘yung tahi,” related the source.
“’Yung ginawa sa kanya, yung bago, laparoscopic, na mas mabilis ang recovery time,” added the source. “Siguro mga one to two weeks lang, fully recovered na, lalo pa sa isang athlete na tulad ni LA.”
Tenorio took over from former Purefoods star Alvin Patrimonio as the PBA’s face of durability and toughness when he played in his 597th straight game in March last year.
At the end of last season, the 36-year-old had played in 641 consecutive games, a streak that dates back to 2006 when he entered the PBA.
Even if Tenorio is not fully recovered enough, the insider pointed out, Ginebra officials could still insert him in a game and take him out after just a few minutes just to ensure his streak goes on.
“Of course, lahat na iyan depende sa decision ni (Kings) coach Tim Cone,” the source hastily added.
The Kings have really no problem at the playmaking position as Stanley Pringle and Scottie
Thompson could readily step in, not to mention versatile veteran point-forward Joe Devance.
The PBA is set to resume its season this Sunday, with the official schedule and rosters to be announced tomorrow.
Tenorio, whose wife gave birth to their first daughter last week, is set to join his team at Clark on the same day.
Japeth Aguilar is also set to make a late arrival for the perennial crowd darlings in the PBA bubble only on Friday after reportedly undergoing rehab on an unspecified old injury.
