Barangay Ginebra playmaker LA Tenorio is set to make his head coaching in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) after Magnolia tapped him as its head coach in the coming 50th season.
No less than San Miguel Corporation sports director Alfrancis Chua made the announcement, saying that the 41-year-old Tenorio will start manning the Hotshots’ bench as soon as he wraps up his stint with Gilas Pilipinas Youth in the FIBA U16 Asia Cup in Mongolia in August.
On the same note, Chua appointed Jason Webb as team governor replacing Rene Pardo.
Tenorio’s appointment didn’t come as a surprise.
Prior to his hiring, Magnolia had an underwhelming performance under the guidance of Chito Victolero. The Hotshots last title, in fact, came in the Commissioner’s Cup in 2018, making it the right time for them to make a coaching change.
In the previous Philippine Cup, the Hotshots were armed with a twice-to-beat advantage but were stunned by TNT Tropang 5G in the quarterfinals.
Chua said Tenorio will be given a free hand to assemble his own staff.
“Even before, we’re giving our coaches a free hand to form their staff. It’s really up to them who they want to include in their coaching staff,” Chua said, adding that Tenorio could handle the team after the U16 Asia Cup.
“I think he’ll start when he gets back, Anyway, the league will not start until October.”
After 18 years as a player, Tenorio has been making a smooth transition into coaching.
He first served as assistant coach and practice player when Tim Cone handled Gilas Pilipinas in the 30th Southeast Asian Games that the country hosted in 2019.
Then, he was given a dual role of playing-assistant coach before the SMC-backed Gilas Pilipinas allowed him to take the saddle of the youth squad with Ginebra team manager Richard del Rosario and former Gilas teammate Gabe Norwood as deputies.
Chua, however, stressed that Tenorio’s future with the U16 squad remains hanging in balance following his appointment at Magnolia.
“It’s something we have to discuss with the SBP (Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas),” he said.