SAN Miguel Corp. sports director Alfrancis Chua isn’t promising that Magnolia Chicken Timplados Hotshots will have a quick turnaround now that LA Tenorio has taken over as the new head coach.
What Chua is sure about is SMC is intent on building up to form a much more competitive team following seasons of playoff disappointments.
“Hindi natin alam eh,” said Chua on Monday when asked if bringing Tenorio in lead to a Magnolia resurgence. “Alam mo, minsan, ‘yung pagbabago, hindi mo malalaman. Katulad nung mga nangyari sa trade sa Magnolia. Hindi napaganda.”
READ Tenorio as Magnolia playing coach? Chua not ruling it out completely
“’Yung mga ganito, you have to experiment eh, try new things kung magki-click,” Chua added.
Chua compared the latest Magnolia shake-up to a chicken adobo being cooked to improve its taste.
“Hindi puwedeng ‘yung adobo, ganun na lang ‘yung lasa. Sabihin mo, 'Okay na ‘to, tiyagain natin.' Medyo lagyan mo ng konting suka, lagyan mo ng itlog, baka maiba,” said Chua.
Prior to Tenorio taking over from Chito Victolero, the Hotshots have gone on a title drought since winning one in the 2018 Governors’ Cup - the PBA ballclub's first since the 2013-14 season where the then-San Mig Coffee took the grand slam.
Magnolia has been a competitive team during that span and made it to the finals five times, losing each time.
In the just concluded 2024-25 season, Magnolia didn’t even make it to the semifinals, with its best finish being the third seed in the elimination round of the Philippine Cup, only to lose to TNT despite a twice-to-beat advantage.
Chua is definitely hoping to see an improvement with Tenorio around.
“Sinusubukan naming i-timpla, baka sakaling sumarap. Kaya nga Timplados eh. Eto tinitimpla namin ng maayos,” said Chua.
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