MAN IN THE MIRROR
LA Tenorio used the words “outplayed and outcoached” in describing Saturday’s quarterfinal loss to TNT that put an end to his maiden conference as playing coach of Magnolia.
“If we want to be the one of the best teams here in the PBA, we have to beat the best team,” Tenorio said. “For us to do that, we have to beat TNT.”
Tenorio and the Hotshots failed to do so, succumbing to a 118-109 decision at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. The latest playoff exit prompted critics and buzz killers to once again call them the “Introvoys.”
Magnolia did start the PBA Philippine Cup well under Tenorio, but crucial defeats down the stretch killed its chances for a twice-to-beat bonus, eventually falling to a predicament of trying to beat a veteran-savvy TNT squad two straight times to move on.
Despite Tenorio playing for the second straight time, putting up three points on his lone conversion from the nearest arc, plus three assists in nine minutes, the Hotshots would eventually go down to the Tropang 5G.
TNT advanced to the semifinals to face either Rain or Shine or sister team Meralco in a best-of-seven series.
“The team kept fighting and they didn’t back down right away,” said Tenorio. “I thought they fought all the way, but the most important thing right now is for us to look into this conference, what we need to improve, especially in this kind of games.”
Young guns must mature
Tenorio hopes to see his youngsters grow from the all-Filipino campaign, especially rookies Chris Koon, acquired in a mid-conference trade with Titan Ultra and Yukien Andrada, who only joined the Hotshots after leading San Beda to the NCAA crown.
Tenorio is also set to do some soul-searching from a coaching standpoint—he needs none of that as a player.
“I just have to take a look at myself first,” he said. “What I need to improve, definitely against [the likes of TNT coach Chot Reyes]. Just like my players, they still have a lot of things to learn, not just for this game, but in this conference.
“I will get better also, but I have to take a look at myself in the mirror also,” he went on. “In the end, the coach will always take the full responsibility. The players will give their best, definitely. But again, in the end, it’s on the coach.
“I take full responsibility for this conference,” the many-time champion player said. “But I told them, I will make sure that we will get back stronger next conference. Personally, I know how it takes to win in a playoff game. But I can’t play. I can’t play if I’m 50 or I can’t play for 48 minutes. So, they need to learn.”
