JUST a month since Jeffrey Cariaso assumed the head-coaching post, LA Tenorio senses a PBA championship for Barangay Ginebra in the near future under its young coach.
Being the one Ginebra player familiar both with Cariaso and the triangle offense he has brought in, Tenorio said he feels the system perfectly fits a team stacked with talent from the frontline to the backcourt.
No wonder Tenorio is brimming with enough confidence to declare that Cariaso is the coach that could put an end to Ginebra’s six-year PBA championship drought.
“I believe he (Cariaso) can bring us to a championship eventually. It’s just a matter of time lang talaga,” Tenorio, fondly called 'Tinyente Tenorio' by Gin Kings fans, declared with conviction.
In the three seasons they spent together as teammates at Alaska, the 29-year-old Tenorio said he already saw from Cariaso the leadership qualities he needed to succeed as a coach.
“Siguro nung mga three years kami nagsama, I can see the leadership he has sa Alaska,” recalled Tenorio, who was a teammate of Cariaso from 2008 until 'The Jet's' retirement in 2010.
The timing was also perfect for Cariaso and Ginebra's paths to merge, he added.
“He can be a good coach talaga and I think it’s a perfect time na kami nahawakan niya, since mga bata rin itong hawak niya na players while he’s starting to build his own name and character as a coach,” Tenorio.
With a perfect blend of young players and veterans led by Mark Caguioa, Jayjay Helterbrand, Greg Slaughter, and Japeth Aguilar, Tenorio feels Cariaso has the right pieces to steer the Gin Kings to greatness.
“Magandang blending eh. I think mas gaganda pa itong team na ito in the long run and I believe 110 percent na maganda ang itatakbo ng team na ito,” shared the Ginebra veteran playmaker.
“Maybe not this conference, pero maganda 'yun kung mag-champion kami (in the Governors Cup). But in the long run, makikita namin ang takbo ng team na ito.”
Ginebra swings back to action on Sunday when it shoots for its fifth win in a game against Rain or Shine.
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