ETHAN Tan-Chi could’ve used his last name for coach LA Tenorio to at least notice him in tryouts for the Gilas Pilipinas Youth team to the Fiba U16 Asia Cup SEABA qualifiers.
He didn’t want to and, it turned out, never needed to.
The son of Paul Tan-Chi, Tenorio’s teammate at Ateneo in the early 2000s, just played like his coach and got a second look.
READ Ugaddan and Co. no longer eligible for Gilas Youth programs
Showing he deserved his spot on the national youth team, the younger Tan-Chi played like a prototypical pass-first point guard like Tenorio, settling Gilas Youth’s offense whenever it was in disarray.
“I idolize coach LA as an undersized guard,” Tan-Chi said. “I always try to create for my teammates before I look for my own shots because I want them to thrive and excel in everything they do.”
The 5-foot-10 playmaker ended up averaging a second-team best 3.8 assists on top of 5.5 points and 2.5 boards in six games to orchestrate Batang Gilas’ offense on the way to the regional championship.
The Faith Academy standout got part of his playmaking skills from Tenorio.
“He always encourages me when I'm off so we have that close connection. He's like another father figure to me,” Tan-Chi said of Tenorio.
But he got his genes from dad.
The elder Paul and Tenorio teamed up in the same backcourt for one season in 2001. A year later when Tenorio took full rein of the team, the Blue Eagles won the UAAP title.
“When LA came in sa UAAP, palabas na ako eh. Rookie si LA,” Tan-Chi said. “Eh, nung rookie si LA, mas magaling na si LA sa akin. Sobrang galing talaga ni LA.”
Two decades later, they are connected again through the younger Tan-Chi.
“Amazing. You know, honestly, when I learned that LA was the coach, and then that Ethan made the team, sa loob-loob ko, parang you have so much peace eh. Kasi, syempre, anak ko to eh,” Paul said.
“Kilala ko si LA na kung ano klaseng tao siya. Hindi lang siya talagang magaling na basketball player, talagang matino siya na tao. Talagang may fear of God. Alam ko na kung 'yung best na mailalabas niya sa bata, kaya gawin ni LA 'yun. At comfortable ako sa coach na to. He will take care of my son. I feel so blessed,” he added.
Paul recalled being his son’s first trainer, apart from his elder brother, Caleb.
“Sa umpisa (ako),” Paul said. “Pero maliit pa siya, mahilig na siya sa basketball eh.”
“Tapos may kuya siya eh. So yung kuya na, si Caleb, malaking bagay din yan sa buhay niya. Kasi pag wala si Caleb, syempre yung level of competition, hindi siya magpu-push. Dahil sa kapatid niya, nag-push din si Ethan eh,” he added.
Paul can attest to son being a Tenorio play-alike.
“Yung laro ni Ethan is may similarity din to LA. Talagang kalmado sila. Hindi nara-rattle. Galing pumasa. So, I think he's a good fit to be with this team.”
if he plays like Tenorio, then Ethan already plays better than his dad.
“Si Ethan talaga,” Paul admitted with a smile. “No match. Lahat ng mga teammate ko sinasabi sa akin, mas magaling talaga yung anak ko eh. So, I'm very happy for him.
“As a father, talagang 'yun 'yung parang joy ng tatay to see their kids blossom. And to be better than them. So, very grateful to the Lord,” he added of his son, who turned 16 last February 7.
Paul, for his part, stays busy with his work in real estate and as a helping hand at Christ’s Commission Fellowship church.
“At the end of the day, I want to live my life in a way that will please and honor God. So, whatever He calls me to do, I want to be faithful to it,” he said.
READ Old Don Bosco video shows how good Tenorio was as a kid
The Tan-Chi patriarch always tells his son to do the same.
“Yung mga gifts na ganoon, galing talaga sa Panginoon,” Paul said of his son’s basketball skills. “So I just remind Ethan, always do your best for the Lord and if he wants you to make this team, then you will.”
And Ethan knows how to repay the favor.
“This has been a huge opportunity that I've been grateful for. I'm actually super blessed to be chosen to be a part of this team. It's something I'll forever cherish and I'm super grateful for this opportunity.”
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