LA Tenorio might continue suiting up as Magnolia playing-coach as the Hotshots still deal with the injuries to Pau Lee and Jerom Lastimosa ahead of the PBA Philippine Cup playoffs.
Magnolia coach LA Tenorio felt the type of jolt that only seven others have experienced in the PBA.
This after Tenorio suited up as playing-coach for the Hotshots, taking on the TNT Tropang 5G in the PBA Season 50 Philippine Cup on Sunday.
By making his season debut, Tenorio became the first PBA playing-coach since Manny Pacquiao for Kia in 2014.
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“Mahirap sa simula kasi kailangan mo ituro at the same time you have to be on the floor. Maraming kailangan isipin eh. Mahirap. It’s not easy but it’s doable,” said Tenorio on his venture as playing-coach.
Unfortunately for him, it was also a losing debut as the Hotshots fell prey to the Tropang 5G, 83-94.
Tenorio wound up with four points, two rebounds, and three assists in his first game back since Game 7 of last season’s PBA Philippine Cup semifinals against eventual champion San Miguel.
The 41-year-old, who is stepping in after Jerom Lastimosa (ankle) and Paul Lee (hamstring) went down with injuries in Bahrain, admitted feeling jitters to start the contest.
“Well of course meron kaunti. Pero again I’ve been doing that naman for my entire career. Even though I’m playing, parang nagco-coach na rin ako sa ibang players eh,” he said.
“Siguro yung leadership lang sa loob ng court. Dalawang guwardya nawala samin eh. Paul Lee is one of our leaders, para lang magkaroon ng kaunting tulong.”
If this new set-up stays, Tenorio said he would need the rest of the coaching staff to step up when he’s on the floor.
“Kaya naman of course with the help of my coaching staff. I trust them. I trust them that they’re gonna make good decisions for me,” he said.
“If I’m playing on the court di ako coach, player ako so sila na bahala na sa labas. If I’m on the bench then I’m the coach. Ganun lang yun.”
Asked whether he will continue being a playing-coach the rest of the conference, Tenorio said it is highly likely.
“Mukhang ganun na mangyayari. But I think with these four days baka malay natin makabalik sya sa lineup (Jerom). Bata pa naman yan,” he said.
“Madali pa mag-heal yan. So hopefully he can come back but if not I’ll be ready naman.”
Ironically, the Hotshots draw the Tropang 5G for the quarterfinals, with TNT holding a twice-to-beat advantage.
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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.