SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga — It felt like the first day of school all over again for Gilas Pilipinas Youth’s LA Tenorio as he made his national team head coaching debut.
He might be a veteran for flag and country on the court, but Tenorio did admit that the national team experience felt completely different as a shot-caller from the sidelines.
READ: Gilas Youth opens SEABA U16 on a high with rout of Vietnam
“Medyo iba yung feeling. Iba yung feeling as a player, as a coach, tapos sa national team pa,” Tenorio told SPIN.ph.
The way he described it after all the expectations mounted on him upon assuming the top coaching post was how ticking off his debut game felt like a huge sigh of relief.
But more than anything, the 40-year-old Barangay Ginebra stalwart wants the limelight to be directed where it rightfully belongs — to his 12-strong Gilas Youth squad that whipped Vietnam by 51 points, 113-62.
“Nakahinga na ako. I think it is important to get out of my chest. But I think it's not about me, it's about the team, it's about the players,"
“I can only do so much sa gilid ng court. At the end of the day, the players are the ones who play. I just have to remind the players the things that we have to do.”
One of the most decisive moments of Tenorio’s Gilas Youth head coaching debut came less than three minutes into the ballgame where he had to call for time very early on after a 13-4 Vietnam start.
Being the level-headed character he’s always been, Tenorio made sure to preach that same patience and composure to his young wards, most of whom are playing in an international competition for the first time.
“I was telling them na I'm expecting it's gonna be like a rollercoaster ride. Actually, for the first few parts of the game, that's how it was,” Tenorio said.
“Sabi ko, normal ‘yan. You might be down the first few minutes of the game but, don't panic. I called the timeout just to remind the players na this is not gonna be easy.
“Don't worry about the score, keep doing the right thing. And until the end, I kept on reminding the players to do the right thing. I want them to learn how to be disciplined, to be focused on the things that we have to do the right way.
“At the end of the day, we have to respect the game.”
Backed by deputies Richard del Rosario and Al Chua, two very important figures in his basketball career, it’s been nothing short of a learning curve for Tenorio as a coach just as it’s been for his young players.
“Malaking bagay sa akin ‘yun as a young coach, ‘yung mentoring ng mga champion coaches. I'm still learning. Just like the boys that I'm coaching. Learning ni sa akin ito everyday.
“‘Yun din ‘yung gusto kong iparating na it's not about me.”
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