LA Tenorio finally got his first game out of the way, but the newly appointed Magnolia head coach could hardly feel any sense of comfort whatsoever.
Or rather refuses to, with the 41-year-old keen on staying as grounded and as focused as he can be in fulfilling his duties as sheriff of the Hotshots.
“I cannot be comfortable,” he offered.
“Siguro makakahinga lang ako bukas at tsaka sa Tuesday, ‘yun lang ‘yung break namin. But we have to prepare again for our back-to-back games next week.”
Tenorio offered as much even after steering Magnolia to a triumphant PBA Season 50 debut by beating his former team Ginebra on Sunday night.
Definitely, it couldn’t get any more poetic for the decorated playmaker to nab his first win against the same team he steered to seven league championships.
To do so in his first-ever Clasico as a mentor made it all the more sweeter for the one-time BPC, who’s also the chief tactician of the Gilas Boys.
But he didn’t want to take all the spotlight to himself, deflecting all the credit to his coaching staff and the players for making the victory possible.
“I really want to give them credit for this game because they really guided me, the coaching staff. Kasi alam nila na mahirap, especially with this kind of atmosphere, in today’s 50th anniversary ng PBA,” he said.
“And for the players, they were really ready going into this game. I guess they really wanted to give this first win sa akin, so I really appreciate my players.”
Still, Tenorio would not want to get swayed by all the first win chatter and whatnot, reminding them that they accomplished nothing but winning one game.
“I cannot be complacent just because we got this game. Tulad nga ng sinabi ko kanina, we got this win, we got this victory out of our chest, but this is just the start of our journey. This is just the start ng journey ko sa Magnolia,” he said.
And this somewhat strict approach is all part of his aim toward the kind of growth he wants to see not only in Magnolia but with himself as well.
“‘Yung sinasabi ko sa mga players, we have to get better every day, we have to be disciplined, we have to be focused on the things that we need to do,” he said. “Let’s not worry about the other team na kung anong gagawin nila sa atin.
“Ang importante ‘yung gusto nating gawin dito sa team; remember may pinaghahandaan kaming mas malaki,” added Tenorio.
“Ganun din ako as a coach. I want to learn everyday, I want to get better, I want to as much as possible stay disciplined, na maturo ko o mapagawa ko sa mga players ko lahat ng gusto kong gawin pars sa team.”
