Magnolia won’t just have a new head coach for PBA Season 50.
Long-time deputy Jason Webb has been promoted as the Hotshots’ new team governor, no less than SMC sports director Alfrancis Chua revealed.
“Ia-announce ko pa lang sana sa Wednesday, sa Board. But I’m naming Jason Webb as the new governor of Magnolia,” he told reporters Monday.
This comes after Chua confirmed that LA Tenorio has been appointed as the team’s new head coach as the franchise is moving on from Chito Victolero.
“Bagong coach, bagong governor,” he said.
Webb, who briefly served as the Hotshots’ head coach, will replace long-time exec Rene Pardo, who, according to Chua, has already retired from his post.
Pardo, 75, had been their team governor since 2004.
“Nagbigay siya ng letter–sa akin, sa office, tsaka sa Board of Governors,” disclosed Chua, who is also serving as the league’s vice chairman.
This reshuffling signals a fresh start for Magnolia, which spent the last eight seasons under Victolero’s stewardship but nabbed only one championship.
The former Mapua mentor actually replaced Webb back in 2016, with the latter sliding back to an assistant role like what he did under Tim Cone.
Now, though, Webb is set to take on arguably his biggest task yet, but Chua is confident that the former cager is capable of fulfilling his duties.
(C) PBA Images
“Matrabahong bata. Very intelligent. Masipag,” he said.
“Malaking bagay siya sa team–actually isa siya sa mga nag-input doon nung nagkaroon ng Covid, isa siya sa mga nagbigay ng idea.
“He’s a good leader,” he added.
These developments have also given the impression that the Hotshots are bound for a major turnaround but Chua would rather temper expectations.
“Alam mo minsan ‘yung pagbabago, katulad nung nangyari sa mga trade ng Magnolia, hindi napaganda,” he said. “Itong mga ganito we have to experiment.
“Try new things, kung ano magki-click. Hindi naman pwede ‘yung adobo, ganun na lang ‘yung lasa, sasabihin mo, ‘De, OK na ‘to, pagtiyagaan na natin.
“Medyo lagyan mo ng konting suka, itlog, baka maiba. Sinusubukan namin. Sinusubukan naming itimpla, baka sakaling sumarap,” Chua added.
Assistant coach Jason Webb has also stepped in as Magnolia team governor.
#WATCH: BAGONG COACH, BAGONG GOVERNOR
A new chapter begins for Magnolia as SMC sports director Alfrancis Chua names LA Tenorio as head coach and promotes Jason Webb to team governor 🏀#ReadMore 👉 https://t.co/A8nSoUKABS
📹 Justine Bacnis/Tiebreaker Times pic.twitter.com/dKjKbZuScD
— Tiebreaker Times (@tiebreakertimes) July 28, 2025
