Aljon Mariano looks forward to a warm yet fiery showdown as Barangay Ginebra takes on the Magnolia Hotshots in their first meeting with LA Tenorio as Hotshots head coach.
Aljon Mariano knows the Manila Clasico will feel different this time around.
When Barangay Ginebra crosses paths with Magnolia for the first time in the PBA’s golden season, the familiar face on the other side won’t be lacing up sneakers but calling the shots from the sideline—his longtime teammate, LA Tenorio.
And Mariano expects the reunion to carry some heat.
“Siguro ‘yung masayang competition. ‘Yung alam mo na masaya siya sa ginagawa niya and kami, kailangan pa rin magpakita na go for the win,” Mariano said during the opening of the third NBA Store in Greenhills, San Juan, on Wednesday, August 20.
Mariano’s entire PBA career has been intertwined with Tenorio. Since entering the league as Ginebra’s 16th overall pick in 2015, the versatile forward has collected seven championships—each of them alongside the man known as “Tinyente.”
That partnership came to a close in July when Magnolia tapped Tenorio to replace Chito Victolero as its newest head coach.
[ALSO READ: Official: LA Tenorio takes over as Magnolia Hotshots head coach from Chito Victolero]
For Mariano, the absence of Tenorio’s leadership will be felt deeply inside the locker room.
“’Yung nawala sa’min, sobrang laking bagay kasi ever since I was with the team, si Kuya LA nandoon talaga [and] nag-guide talaga sa’min,” he said.
He added: “Sobrang laking bagay ‘yung veteran presence niya tsaka ‘yung winning attitude at championship mentality niya. ‘Yung mga crucial games na alam mo na dehado na kami pero biglang nagagawan ng paraan ni Kuya LA… talagang siya ‘yung nagdadala sa’min.”
Still, Mariano is proud to see his former teammate step into a new role and is confident that Tenorio will bring his trademark toughness and poise to a Magnolia squad hungry to end a title drought dating back to 2018.
“For him na naging coach, proud ako kasi nakita natin na maganda ‘yung naging results nung nag-coach siya sa Gilas Youth and eventually madadala niya rin sa Magnolia ‘yung attitude niya and winning mindset niya every day,” the Ginebra bruiser bared.
[ALSO READ: PBA: New Magnolia head coach LA Tenorio holds first practice with Hotshots]
After back-to-back Finals appearances, the Gin Kings lost in seven games to the eventual Philippine champions San Miguel Beermen in Season 49’s All-Filipino Conference.
Now, they’re gearing up to end a two-year title drought in the league’s golden season this October.