LA TENORIO isn’t promising instant changes at Magnolia following his appointment as head coach, but is certain that the players are hungry for success after multiple playoff letdowns led to the team being labeled as ‘Introvoys’ by fans.
The Hotshots haven’t won a title since Chito Victolero's first only championship as coach in the 2018 Governors’ Cup. As soon as he stepped in as the new head coach, Tenorio said he sensed the players' overrriding desire to end that drought.
READ Arejola to Magnolia, Pido, Chong to Dyip in NorthPort 'dispersal'
“The good thing about the team is they’re hungry,” said Tenorio in his first media interview since his appointment last July. “They’re really hungry to get to that level again. Medyo matagal-tagal na silang hindi nakakatikim eh.”
“Kahit sinong coach ang mapunta dito sa kanila, ‘yun ‘yung feel nila, ‘yung hunger, ‘yung willingness to go to the next level,” said Tenorio.
On Magnolia shedding the ‘Introvoys’ label pinned on it by rival fans, Tenorio said they are taking it one step at a time, beginning with making the playoffs.
“Hindi ko naman masasabi ‘yan,” said Tenorio. “But again, just like what I’ve told the players, every day, we just have to get better. Every day, we just have to work, and we’ll see. We’ll see what will happen.
"Isa rin sa mga natutunan ko is, winning is not everything. Panalo ka ng panalo, and then hindi mo rin makukuha ‘yung goal mo, hindi mo ma-achieve ‘yung goal mo. So you really just have to be patient,” said Tenorio.
“And I want them to realize that we don’t need to win everything. We don’t need to win every game. We just have to learn. Just have to get better. And let’s see what will happen in the playoffs,” said Tenorio.
“Just have to be in the playoffs and then we’ll see what will happen. ‘Yun lang. ‘Yun lang ang goal namin,” said Tenorio.
Upon his entry at Magnolia, changes were already made, among them the acquisition of Javi Gomez de Liaño from Terrafirma in a trade. Yukien Andrada was also the first pick of Tenorio as head coach during the PBA Season 50 Draft on Sunday.
Tenorio said the players are responding to his coaching during the preseason build-up.
“So far, okay naman. Kilala ko naman ‘yung mga players sa Magnolia. Kilala naman nila ako as a player. But again, it’s different when you’re a coach. But the good thing about Magnolia is they’re willing to learn.
Magnolia commitment
"They’re committed. They’re very hardworking. Wala akong problema. And basically, it’s a good composition of vets at saka mga young players,” said Tenorio.
The 41-year-old Tenorio, who formally announced the end of his playing career on Saturday, said he is stil trying to get used to being called a coach.
“Hindi pa rin sanay pero masasanay din ‘yan, unti-unti,” said Tenorio. “I think ‘yung experience na nakuha namin sa Batang Gilas, it helped me a lot. I’m getting used to it, getting there, but a lot of things to work on pa."
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph
NOTICE ON UNAUTHORIZED AND UNLAWFUL USE, PUBLICATION, AND/OR DISSEMINATION OF SPIN.PH CONTENT: Please be notified that any unauthorized and unlawful use, publication, and/or dissemination of Spin.ph’s content and/or materials is a direct violation of its legal and exclusive rights to the same, and shall be subject to appropriate legal action/s.
