MANILA – Jones Cup hero LA Tenorio made just two points but nearly had a double-double with 10 assists and nine rebounds to lead the new-look Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Kings to a 110-90 demolition of GlobalPort Batang Pier as the 38th season for the Philippine Cup opened at the Araneta Coliseum Sunday. Tenorio, the former Alaska Ace point guard, showed little trouble in adjusting to the Kings' run and gun style of play as he brilliantly orchestrated Ginebra's high-octane offense. As a result, six Kings scored in double figures, led by Mark Caguioa with 18. Rico Maierhofer and Billy Mamaril scored 14 point each, while rookies Keith Jensen and Chris Ellis debuted impressively with 13 and 12 points respectively. All 12 players fielded by Ginebra head coach Siot Tanquincen scored. But Tanquincen reserved his biggest praise to Tenorio, their prized acquisition. “He brings a lot of intangibles in the game. He caused two or three turnovers that swung the momentum back on our side in the fourth quarter. He took control of the game and he made plays,” the Ginebra coach said after the game. From start to finish, the Kings electrified the sellout Sunday crowd of 18,900 with one scintillating play after another en route to a 53 percent shooting from the field and a whopping 32 assists. Willie Miller led GlobalPort with 26 points, but top-gunner Gary David struggled for just nine points, all scored late in the fourth quarter. With Ginebra up by 18 points, 86-64, at the start of the final quarter, Batang Pier went on a 19-8 run capped by back to back baskets by rookie AJ Mandani to cut the lead to 11, 94-83, with 5:44 remaining. GlobalPort cut the deficit further to nine after a David three-pointer, but Maierhofer and Caguioa ignited a 16-4 Ginebra run to finish off GlobalPort, formerly the Powerade Tigers.
