PBA: LA Tenorio gets hang of coaching role, admits itch to play

Six games into his new role as PBA head coach, LA Tenorio said he is already getting the hang of doing his new role.

But the eight-time champion as a player was also quick to admit that there were stretches where he felt the itch to hop in and get the job done himself.

That was the case Friday, Nov. 7, as his Magnolia squad ceded a 92-94 decision against San Miguel in the PBA Season 50 Philippine Cup.

“Well, oo, [I'm getting used to the coaching role.] Pero iba pa rin 'pag naglalaro. Parang gusto kong kunin kanina 'yong bola, eh. 'Ako na lang!,'" Tenorio said with a laugh after the match at the Ynares Center in Montalban.

Magnolia playing coach Tenorio?

Tenorio reiterated that he is not ruling out the possibility of seeing action himself in the ongoing conference.

Will LA Tenorio juggle coaching and playing for Magnolia? | Photo: PBA Images

After all, the former Best Player of the Conference is in the team’s injury list.

“It’s a different challenge for me. It’s a different aspect of challenge and competition, my coaching young players. I'm just happy, blessed,” Tenorio said.

“Given the chance, malay mo, 'di ba, makalaro ulit ako? We’ll see. Then, ako naman ang didiskarte,” Tenorio said, smiling.

[RELATED STORY: PBA: Don Trollano makes explosive return as SMB survives Magnolia]

But although there is a Magnolia jersey ready should he decide to suit up, this isn’t likely to happen any time soon.

Tenorio said he also did not want to mess up the team’s flow that allowed them to drop only two close games in six outings.

[RELATED STORY: PBA 50 games now available on Pilipinas Live, One Sports' YouTube for free]

Still, he will mull over it once the league goes into a break from Nov. 17 to Dec. 4 to give way for Gilas Pilipinas’ campaign in the first window of the FIBA World Cup Qualifiers.

“Tignan natin. Maganda naman ang itinatakbo ng team. Baka pagpasok ko, biglang masira, masisi pa ako. Baka sisihin ako ng coach,” Tenorio said, laughing.

Right now, Tenorio is embracing and loving the challenge of taking on many-time champion coaches, like Leo Austria of San Miguel.

“But unti-unti, nakukuha ko na naman with the help of my coaching staff. Sana, tuluy-tuloy na rin. Sana, makabingwit kami ng isang malaking isda,” Tenorio said of his squad, which has already beaten Ginebra, Titan Ultra, Terrafirma and Phoenix to log a 4-2 card to share the third spot with the Beermen and NLEX.

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Like most sportswriters, Jan Ballesteros once dreamed of becoming a professional hooper. But he learned the hard way that it’s not for everyone.

He continues to be involved in the sport he loves, but this time as a member of the PBA Press Corps. Aside from primarily covering the PBA, he is also assigned to cover Gilas Pilipinas.