Maroons under LA feel it’s just a matter of time before Hotshots hit their stride
Magnolia’s first conference under LA Tenorio ended in the PBA Philippine Cup quarterfinals, and for two young Hotshots who will be integral parts of the franchise’s future, getting used to the system of the all-time great point guard will be key.
“I think we have to use this time to get used to his system,” Zavier Lucero told the Inquirer recently. “We haven’t had this kind of system for too long, so it’s new for a lot of guys.
“As time goes on, it’ll be easier for everyone to fit in the system,” Lucero added, though he was one of those who thrived under Tenorio and helped the Hotshots finish with a 6-5 card in the eliminations before bowing out in the first round of the playoffs.
“It was a little rough this conference, even for me,” Lucero, whose conference ended with a 22-point, 13-rebound output in a 119-108 loss to TNT in the quarterfinals, went on. “We have to get everybody on the same page to do the system altogether.”
Different after nine years
It’s understandable that some of the players would struggle, especially the old-timers. Tenorio took over from Chito Victolero, who had instilled a system of his own after calling the shots for the franchise for more than nine years and winning one championship.
Though he really didn’t go into the specifics, Lucero said he isn’t rushing anything.
“Long story short, I think we can all fit in his system, but it’ll take some time,” Lucero said. “Numbers are numbers, I played a lot of minutes, but I still felt that I should’ve produced more this conference.”
Another former UP Fighting Maroon, like Lucero, Javi Gomez de Liaño, meanwhile, didn’t have as glittering a conference like Lucero did. This, despite debuting with 14 points in an 80-73 win over Barangay Ginebra.
He spent the latter half of the conference riding the bench.
“I felt like I could’ve helped more, but I’m just doing what I can control,” Gomez de Liaño said. “There must be a reason for everything, right?
“I know a lot have been wondering why I’ve been sitting on the bench in the past few games,” he went on. “But I guess I just have to be a great teammate on the bench. As a professional, you can still help the team and lift everyone up.”
Much like Lucero, though, Gomez de Liaño is set on adjusting to Tenorio’s system.
“I have to adjust to what the team is running and on my end, I have to adjust myself as well,” Gomez de Liaño said.
