MONTALBAN – LA Tenorio lamented another poor Magnolia start to a PBA campaign, stressing the Hotshots should have picked up a lesson or two from the experience they had in the last Commissioner’s Cup.
“Of course, it’s only the first game. But we have to learn from the last conference na lagi kaming naghahabol,” noted Tenorio.
READ Phoenix shrugs off flat start to stun Magnolia in debut
His frustration stemmed from the team’s 98-86 loss to the Phoenix Fuel Masters on Saturday night in the two team’s debut in the season-ending Governors’ Cup.
The Hotshots failed to protect a 16-point first-half lead and the Fuel Masters went on and outplayed them in the last two quarters where they were outscored, 49-33, to lose their opening game for the second straight conference.
During the midseason tournament, Magnolia got off to a 0-3 start with Nuni Omot as import, and didn’t get in the groove until replacement Clint Chapman came on board.
Magnolia’s loss to Phoenix was compounded even more by the foul trouble of import KJ Buffen, who was held to just 15 points in his PBA debut.
But Tenorio said that shouldn’t be an excuse.
“We can’t rely on our import all the time. If we need to play all-Filipino, then so be it.” said the Magnolia coach when asked what he told the team inside the dugout following the loss. “We fell into the trap na kanya-kanya.”
The Hotshots return to the court on Friday against Blackwater, which is coming off a 131-108 stunner of Rain or Shine.
“We have to find ways to figure this out,” said Tenorio, who incidentally, turned 42 just last week.
“Buti nga tapos na yung birthday ko,” he added when asked if the loss spoiled his birthday week.
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