LA Tenorio now cancer-free, will join Gilas Pilipinas practices as part of coaching staff

LA Tenorio has been declared free of cancer and is now cleared to join Gilas Pilipinas as part of the coaching staff for the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, China later this month.

His coach at the Barangay Ginebra, Tim Cone, who is also calling the shots for the nationals, announced the good news on Tuesday on the sidelines of Gilas Pilipinas' press conference.

"We just got really good news on LA, by the way. His last PET (positron emission tomography) scan he took today in Singapore is cancer-free," Cone bared.

"So he is finished with all of his sessions, chemo sessions. He's been declared cancer-free."

Tenorio, an eight-time PBA champion and a former national team member, revealed last March that he had been diagnosed with a stage 3 colon cancer, which forced him to temporarily halt his stint with Ginebra in the pro league.

And after months of chemotherapy in Singapore, Tenorio survived his biggest battle yet.

This is a huge development for the veteran PBA guard as he will join Cone and his deputies in leading Gilas Pilipinas in the Asiad. Aside from Tenorio, Richard del Rosario, Jong Uichico, and Josh Reyes have also been named to the coaching staff.

"Within days, he can start practicing. In three or four days, he can return to practice," Cone added.

—JMB, GMA Integrated News