One of the shockers of the PBA offseason so far happened just weeks after Season 49 ended: the Magnolia Hotshots replacing longtime coach Chito Victolero with Barangay Ginebra San Miguel legend LA Tenorio.
It’s a big surprise mostly because Tenorio has become synonymous with the Ginebra brand, and seemingly all indications pointed to him staying with the Barangay as playing assistant coach (as he basically did in Season 49)—and maybe even as head coach in the future if and when Tim Cone decides to call it a career.
Imbuing the Never-Say-Die Spirit to Magnolia
Tenorio will be coaching full time, all right, but he’ll be doing it in Magnolia, whose last championship—the 2018 Governors’ Cup—saw them beating Tenorio and Ginebra in the semis, 3-1. Now, the Hotshots are banking on Tenorio to break their now seven-year title drought, a feat Tinyente knows all too well after helping Ginebra break their own eight-year championship famine in 2016.
Now, it appears the 41-year-old eight-time champ is looking to take a little something from Ginebra to transform Magnolia into contenders: that famed never-say-die spirit.
“I’m still going to be the same LA as a player, being very competitive,” he told the PBA. “It’s a weird feeling and it’s a weird situation. But one thing I’ve learned playing for Ginebra is really the never-say-die spirit, not only in basketball, but in life. Siguro ‘yun ang maibibigay ko talaga sa team namin.”
Indeed, Tenorio embodies that NSD attitude, always fighting and giving his all both on and off the court. That he came back from cancer to continue playing is the ultimate testament to Tinyente’s unyielding spirit in life and in basketball. It’s the same heart and mentality Tenorio is looking to bring to Magnolia, and it could just be one of the keys to the Hotshots breaking their title drought sooner rather than later.
Tenorio Ready for the Grind
Shocked as he was, the former Gilas point guard acknowledged nonetheless that he is happy for this new opportunity, even if it’s with another team. And it appears he’s diving in headfirst and embracing the challenge—along with the grind that comes with it.
“Bilog lang talaga ang mundo. Maliit lang ang mundo ng basketball. I’m just happy I was given the opportunity,” Tenorio noted. “Ang daming puwedeng coaches na maging possible dito, but tayo ang binigyan ng pagkakataon. So, siguro there’s a reason, there’s a purpose kung bakit ako nandito. ‘Yan ang kailangan nating pag-trabahuhan. Siyempre binigay sa atin itong opportunity na ito, so for sure I’m not going to waste it.”
Already, it’s looking like Tenorio has buckled down to work for the Hotshots—and for someone who once played a PBA-record 744 consecutive games from 2006 to 2023, best believe that he’ll continue grinding it out until he delivers a title back to Magnolia.
