Winning his coaching debut would have put anyone in Cloud Nine, but not LA Tenorio, who downplayed his 80-73 win scored over his former team Barangay Ginebra and coached by his long-time mentor, Tim Cone.
A victory against the winningest coach in league history might be considered as an accomplishment for some, but not for Tenorio, who felt nothing special pulling off that huge victory by a newbie bench tactician.
“Of course, tatanggapin ko itong panalong ito, why not,” said Tenorio. “But I feel, not really fulfilled. I’m happy that we won this game. Yes, I feel OK and I feel good, but fulfilled, not really. Satisfied? Probably hindi pa rin. I just feel good lang about this win, but I cannot (be satisfied) because this is just one win. Wala naman kaming na-achieved.”
“It’s just the same thing that if we played, say like Meralco, or TNT or NorthPort, it’s just one win. We have a bigger task and a bigger picture that we’re looking at. I can only say that I’m fulfilled if nakuha ko na yung finals or championship.”
Coaching his first game as mentor of the Magnolia Hotshots, Tenorio led his team to an 80-73 triumph over the league’s most popular team.
Under the new coach, the Hotshots displayed balance production led by All-Defensive Team Member Zav Lucero, who poured in 17 points, grabbed seven rebounds, picked up four steals and completed a block.
Backing up Lucero is newcomer Javi Gomez de Liano and sophomore Jerom Lastimosa, who each tallied 14 markers, while Rome dela Rosa chipped in 12 points.
Magnolia outscored Ginebra in points in the paint, 38-24, as well as in points coming off turnovers, 27-10.
Prior to the match, Tenorio was even preparing for a losing statement to be delivered to the media, but instead found himself pulling this one off against Cone.
“I was actually preparing kung ano yung sasabihin when we lose this game, but we didn’t expect to win,” added Tenorio.
Still the record holder for the streak of active games played, a feat which his now player, Mark Barroca could surpass anytime soon, Tenorio admitted that he is still trying to get his feet wet in the coaching circuit.
“I’m still trying to get used to it,” said Tenorio. “Actually, akala ko nga may isang quarter pa. Yun pala tapos na. But I cannot be complacent because we got this game. We got this win. We got this victory out of my chest, but this is just the start of our journey, so I cannot be complacent.”
“Sinasabi ko sa mga players ko, we have to get better everyday and focused on the things we need to do and not worry about the other team. Ang importante, kung anong dapat natin gawin dito sa team. May pinaghahandaan kaming mas malaki, and ganun rin ako as a coach. I want to learn everyday. I want to get better. I want to, as much as possible, stay disciplined na maituro ko at maipagawa ko sa mga players ang dapat nilang gawin.”
