Most Improved Product Endorser

LA Tenorio, who plays for the Alaska Aces in the Philippine Basketball Association, is one of, if not the best point guard to ever play for the Ateneo de Manila Blue Eagles. He is fondly remembered for his stellar five-season UAAP career in which he helped tow the Hail Mary Squad to the Final Four all five years, the Finals three straight times, and the championship once (against archrival La Salle).

But even as well-regarded as he is, it will take Tenorio a looong time to live down a misguided previous foray in product endorsement. This newish TV commercial only evens things a bit:



Maybe next time they'll even have LA speak directly to the camera but hey, small steps.

Tenorio is perfect for that commercial. In those years when Ateneo always came up short against powerhouses La Salle and FEU, it seemed that the most enduring images from the Blue Eagles' big-game losses to the Green Archers and the Tamaraws would be Tenorio cramping up in the fourth quarter after playing the entire game with little to no relief. My friend S, who's from La Salle and UST, used to blame it on Ateneo's "[messed] up" substitution patterns.

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For more related goodness (and cameos from past and present figures in Ateneo basketball), check out Episode 1 and Episode 2 of "Gatorade Champion's Locker: LA Tenorio."

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[31 May Edit]

Episode 3, Episode 4, and Episode 5 are also out.