Playing-coach LA Tenorio takes in a lot of lessons as the Magnolia Hotshots end their PBA Season 50 Philippine Cup stint with a quick quarterfinals exit.
LA Tenorio is taking full accountability after Magnolia’s exit in the PBA Season 50 Philippine Cup quarterfinals.
Tenorio had this to say after their 109-118 loss to TNT at the Smart Araneta Coliseum last Dec. 27, marking the end of his first conference as Hotshots playing-coach.
“I have to take a look at myself in the mirror also, kung tama ba 'yung pinapagawa ko sa mga bata, kung tama ba 'yung mga sinasabi ko,” said Tenorio, who was available as an active player in Magnolia’s last two games.
“In the end the coach will always take the full responsibility. The players will give their best, but in the end, coach naman yan eh. Nasa coach yan. So I take full responsibility for this conference,” he added.
Still, there’s much to gain in defeat for the rookie mentor, who became just the seventh playing-coach in the PBA and first after Manny Pacquiao in 2014.
Tenorio took comfort in the fact that the Hotshots came back from 27 points down and made things interesting in the endgame against the twice-to-beat TNT before bowing out.
“What I liked today was they kept fighting in today's game, hindi sila nag-back down kaagad. I thought they fought all the way,” he said.
There’s no doubt in Tenorio’s mind the Hotshots will come back stronger in the Commissioner’s Cup.
“A lot of positives that we can take away from this conference and hopefully when we get back, we'll get back stronger,” he said.
“Sabi ko nga sa kanila, we don't have any choice. We have to get back stronger. Wala tayong choice. If we don't, then we might as well not join the PBA anymore next conference. Yun lang yun, let this be a big lesson for us.”
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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.