The Magnolia Hotshots made some significant moves on the day new head coach LA Tenorio held his first practice with the team.
Piece by piece, Magnolia is putting up the bricks that will build up its team under new head coach LA Tenorio.
The Hotshots started by signing role players Peter Alfaro and Russel Escoto to an extension Tuesday, Aug. 12.
Alfaro signed a three-year extension with the Hotshots, who are looking to improve on a quarterfinal finish in the recently concluded PBA Season 49 Philippine Cup.
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In 13 games last conference, the cat-quick guard from Zamboanga normed five points, 1.15 rebounds and 1.23 assists in 16.13 minutes of action.
On the other hand, Escoto will stay as a Hotshot for the next two years.
In the All-Filipino conference, the 6-foot-6 forward saw significant minutes as he started twice, the last coming in an 83-71 win over Converge last April 9.
He averaged 3.63 points and 1.75 rebounds.
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Such were the first few moves Magnolia made since appointing Tenorio as head coach. The well-loved Ginebra guard replaced Chito Victolero, who held the reins of the Hotshots for nine years and steered the team to one championship.
Jason Webb also assumed the team governor position after long-time Magnolia Rene Pardo retired.
San Miguel Corp. sports director Alfrancis Chua, however, is tempering expectations, with Tenorio making his first head coaching post in the league.
"We're not expecting that much kasi bago pa lang si LA. But, for sure, he'll be good as a coach," said Chua in a previous interview.