THOUGHTS | NEVER UNDERESTIMATE THE LEGENDS

I’ve always hated the idea of benching stars just because of their age. I’ve said this time and again in my blog. Look it up. I hated how Yeng Guiao benched Asi Taulava and quietly reduced the minutes of Larry Fonacier and Cyrus Baguio when he was still with NLEX. In some ways, the same thing is happening now in Rain or Shine. Beau Belga’s minutes have been cut this season, even though he had his best scoring average just the year before. I also remember how San Miguel phased out Danny Ildefonso, Danny Seigle, and Olsen Racela in the mid-2000s, even though they could still play.

For me, it’s simple. You replace veterans gradually, and only when it’s clear they’ve lost their edge. Jayson Castro’s arc is a perfect example. He started as Jimmy Alapag’s understudy and eventually overtook him in the rotation. Now, he’s likely to pass the torch to Jordan Heading.

That’s how it should be done.

This is also why I’ve always questioned San Miguel’s decision to trade Alex Cabagnot and Arwind Santos instead of grooming the next star while they were still performing. If Starhorse does become the newest PBA team, these two should absolutely be part of their founding core.

A lot of former stars are thriving in the MPBL right now, and it always makes me wonder if they can still make an impact in the PBA. Guys like KG Canaleta, Marc Pingris, Mark Yee, and JR Quinahan could still contribute even if they’re past their prime. In the current PBA playoffs, we’ve seen Kelly Williams, Gabe Norwood, and the unnamed player in question tap into their vintage forms.

He is actually the main reason why I’m writing this.

And yes, I hated that Rafi Reavis was part of Magnolia’s crunch time lineup in that quarterfinals loss to TNT. To be clear, it wasn’t about Reavis’ game. What annoyed me was why he was in that moment when other players had logged more minutes and could have been better suited for the situation.

Which brings me to LA Tenorio and his Game 6 insertion.

The dude is an icon and should be part of the next ten greatest PBA players list.

That moment will go down as one of the best reminders of why Ginebra’s Never Say Die mantra defies all logic. Like Reavis, LA didn’t play many minutes. But unlike Reavis, Tenorio helped spark a comeback. Tim Cone used him smartly, pulling him during defensive stretches and putting him back in on offense. And when Scottie Thompson drove and found LA for that clutch three, it was just magic.

What makes it even more special is that it felt like there should have been more. Unlike most of his peers, Tenorio rarely gets injured. In fact, he holds the PBA record for most consecutive games played with 744. He’s 41 now, but in a league where many top performers are in their 30s, Tenorio still feels young.

June Mar Fajardo has dealt with injuries and is still chasing a ninth MVP at 35. LA, aside from his cancer battle, hasn’t really suffered a major injury and continues to show he can deliver. He’s a four-time Finals MVP, an eight-time PBA champion, and someone who has been winning since his San Beda and Ateneo days.

In a league where most rookies are between 23 and 27, the presence of players like Tenorio, Norwood, Williams, Chris Ross, and even Reavis shouldn’t be viewed as a problem. There’s a reason young players often struggle to shine while veterans thrive under pressure.

Even in the NBA, the same thing is happening. LeBron James might still outperform Bronny James despite the age gap, simply because his body is built for the grind. Kevin Durant, James Harden, Russell Westbrook, Chris Paul, Klay Thompson, Draymond Green, and Steph Curry may be aging, but they still find ways to matter. Carmelo Anthony and Dwight Howard left the NBA not because they couldn’t play, but because their names were too big to be stuck at the end of the bench on rebuilding teams.

I understand that when Mark Caguioa and Jayjay Helterbrand had their swan song moments under Tim Cone, it felt great for one game, but they were clearly winded the next. That might not be the case with Tenorio. His starting days may be over, but he’s far from a cameo act.

Yes, younger players have fresher legs. But if the choice is between a proven veteran and a young gun with shaky decision-making in the clutch, I’ll take the vet every time.