Magnolia Hotshots new coach LA Tenorio. Paige Javier, ABS-CBN News
MANILA – Will we be seeing LA Tenorio suit up again soon? The new Magnolia Hotshots head coach did not dismiss the possibility of playing for the team.
Tenorio confirmed the development to reporters during PBA Media Day on Friday.
"I'm part of the lineup. I think I'm part of the injury list. So yeah, so we'll see. It depends on the management. But for now I'm not focused on that. My [playing] rights is with Magnolia now," he said.
"I saw the final lineup that we submitted the other day and I was in the injury list. So I have a chance. May chance. But we'll see," Tenorio added.
The former Barangay Ginebra guard said he even joined the team's full practice on Friday, before heading to PBA Media Day.
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"Kanina sumali ako sa practice. From time to time I'm joining, sumasali ako ng practice. You never know," he said.
"Every time I join practice, tingin ko may magandang nangyayari eh. Mas nakikita nila kung ano 'yung mga gusto kong ituro sa kanila, gusto kong ituro sa kanya. Mas nakikita nila 'pag ginagawa ko in real time," the newly installed mentor added.
When asked about the team's preparations for the PBA's golden season, Tenorio said he does not put too much pressure on his team but they are progressing day by day.
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"I like what I saw awhile ago in practice. We're progressing. I think kung 'yun ang itatanong sa akin, our team is progressing. Every day we're getting better. The young players, the new players are adapting the system right away," he shared.
Tenorio said if ever he becomes a playing coach, he said it will be a tough decision.
"It's hard, basically it's gonna be a hard decision for. Because siyempre, nag-co-coach ako, at the same time naglalaro. I think there's only one, one person can only do that. It's Coach Sonny [Jaworski]. Respect tayo diyan," he explained.
"Kung magagawa ko, why not? We'll see, we'll see. Playing coach and injury list. Ang dami ko nang ginagawa," Tenorio said.
FROM COACH LA TO TEAMMATE?
Magnolia veteran Mark Barroca said they were surprised to have Tenorio join them in practice.
"Nagulat nga ako kanina nag 5-on-5 teammate kaming dalawa kanina. So sobrang happy ako kasi ilang years ko siyang kalaban. Pag-start ko ng PBA kalaban ko na siya eh," Barroca said.
"So ngayon magkakasama kami dalawa... Pasahan lang, excited kami, kalaban namin 'yung mga bata. So itong practice namin kahit pagod kami pero nag-e-enjoy kami," he added.
Barroca said one can really see the passion of Tenorio for the game, including his basketball IQ. He even joked that Tenorio drained the most shots during practice.
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"Nakita ko talaga kung gaano siya smart sa laro. Akala mo lang ngayon siya nagkaka-edad. Pero 'di mo alam 'yung experience, nakikita mo. Nagugulat na lang kami 'yung tinuturo niya sa amin. Nagagaya ng mga bata," he shared.
"Nakikita ko 'yung winning culture na madadala niya talaga dito sa team namin," Barroca added.
One of Magnolia's young guns Xavier Lucero said he was excited to have Coach Tenorio suit up during practice.
"He's only suited up for us three times, it's been good every time. It's fun," he said.
Lucero said he's looking forward to possibly playing alongside Tenorio, who he was not able to face when the latter was still with Barangay Ginebra.
"He didn't get so many minutes when I was playing against Ginebra. But now that I've seen him on the floor with us, he can still go. If he was on the floor, if they can somehow make it work, I mean by all means. He's still one of the best, smartest players we have in the PBA," Lucero shared.
"If there's a guy who's fit enough to do it, it would be LA. I welcome it. I'm sure it will be fun," he said of Tenorio as a playing coach.
With the eight-time PBA champion on Magnolia's injured/reserve list, this paves the way for him to return to the court in the near future.
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