Tenorio excuses self from FIBA championship

La Tenorio (Facebook photo)

MANILA – Barangay Ginebra player and national team member La Tenorio excuses himself from competing in the 2015 FIBA Asia Championship in China due to fatigue, injury and age.

“Leave of absence lang naman muna sa national team. Kapag tinawag pa rin next year, I’m ready to play. Malapit sa puso ko ang national team. But at this time, huwag muna,” he said in an interview with Sports Radio 918.

([I filed a] leave of absence to the national team for now. If I’ll be called next year, I’m ready to play. The national team’s close to my heart. But this time, I can’t play for it.)

Tenorio stated that it was a difficult decision he has made but he believed that he has to concentrate his efforts to the Gin Kings for the meantime.

“Matagal ko itong pinag-isipan. Mahirap na diskusyunan sa pamilya at malalapit na kaibigan. Feeling ko kung dere-derecho akong lalaro sa national team, unfair to both parties,” he said, referring to the national team and Ginebra.

([It took me a] long time to think about this. I had discussions with my family and close friends. I have a feeling that if I’ll play succeeding games for the national team, it will be unfair to both parties.)

“Almost four years na akong nasa national team at evident ang fatigue factor. Evident na bumaba ang output ng laro ko last season. ‘Yun yung fatigue factor. So, I came out with this decision to be fair with both the national team and Ginebra,” he added.

(I’ve been playing for the national team for almost four years now and the fatigue factor is evident. It’s evident that my output last season went down. That’s the fatigue factor. So, I came out with this decision to be fair with both the national team and Ginebra.

It can be noted that Tenorio used to average 14.04 points, 5.75 assists, 5.0 rebounds and 1.48 steals. Last year, he only averaged 9.95 points, 3.8 assists, 4.3 rebounds, and 1.49 steals.

“Kasi naman yung siko ko hindi pa completely healed at hindi na ako bumabata. Kung magde-dere-derecho ako sa Gilas, hindi rin ako magiging effective and it’s unfair to them. Then pagbalik ko sa Ginebra, malamang hindi rin ako magiging effective and it’s also unfair to them. So, it’s time to focus on one,” he said.

(It’s because my elbow isn’t completely healed yet and I’m not getting any younger. If I’ll [play] succeeding games for Gilas, I will not be effective and it’s unfair to them. Then when I return to Ginebra, I may not be effective as well and it’s also unfair to them. So, it’s time to focus on one.)

“In four years, ngayon lang ako makakatikim ng more than 10-day rest during off-season. In the last three years, bilang na bilang ko na 10 days lang ang maximum na pahinga ko,” he added.

(In four years, it’s only now that I’ll be able to have more than a 10-day rest during off-season. In the last three years, I can recount that I’ve only had a 10-day rest.)