LA Tenorio made a good account of himself in his PBA coaching debut after steering Magnolia past Barangay Ginebra, 80-73, in the opening salvo of the league’s 50th season Sunday night at the SMART Araneta Coliseum.
The star guard-turned-mentor made a proud start in his first game helming a franchise, as the Hotshots would end up victorious. Through the game, he pushed his wards to start off strongly before finishing solidly to kick off Philippine Cup action.
“I just want to thank the players and also my coaching staff, I really want to give them the credit for this game,” said the decorated 41-year-old floor general.
His charges scored the match’s first 10 points before building a 21-7 lead, and that good of an opener enabled the team to be ahead the rest of the way.
But it wasn’t all smooth-sailing for Magnolia and Tenorio himself. He ended up witnessing what it’s like being on the other end as the Kings unleashed their NSD spirit.
Ginebra rallied in the fourth and cut a 63-48 gap to just six points twice.
Luckily for the team, the troika of Mark Barroca, Zav Lucero, and Jerom Lastimsoa helped restore order. They strung together a mini 7-0 run to re-establish their lead to 13 points, 72-59, with less than six minutes left to play.
Javi Gomez de Liano and Rome dela Rosa helped apply the final touches with crucial hits inside the final 4:29, and the Hotshots would go on to author a truly unique chapter of the Manila Clasico in their favor.
“The players, they were really ready going into this game,” lauded Tenorio. “I guess they really wanted to give this first win sa akin so I really appreciate my players. I hope this will be the start of a good journey for the Magnolia team.”
Lucero, fresh off earning Mythical Second Team and All-Defensive Team honors in the Season 49 Leo Awards earlier in the day, led Magnolia with 17 points. He also had seven rebounds, four assists, four steals, and a block.
The returning Gomez de Liano and Lastimosa finished with 14 points apiece as the tandem combined for six of the team’s nine triples.
Dela Rosa chipped in 12 points, including the first points of the league’s golden season, as the quartet bannered the Hotshots’ balanced attack.
Magnolia will look to make it two in a row when it tests the mettle of newcomers Titan Ultra on Friday, October 17, at 5:15 PM, also at the Big Dome.
Stephen Holt, on the other hand, led Ginebra with 16 points and 17 rebounds. Jeremiah Gray supplied 13 points, while Troy Rosario made 12.
RJ Abarrientos added 11 markers and four assists off the bench in the defeat that spoiled his coronation as the Season 49 Rookie of the Year.
“Too many turnovers, not enough effort on defense, didn’t execute tonight, didn’t play a very good game at all. Give credit to them, they were more prepared than we were. They looked sharper, looked better,” lamented head coach Tim Cone.
The Kings are hoping to pick it up as soon as they can, as they will be taking on TNT on October 15 in an early rematch of last year’s first two Finals series.
The Scores:
Magnolia 80 – Lucero 17, Lastimosa 14, Gomez de Liano 14, dela Rosa 12, Sangalang 9, Barroca 7, Laput 5, Dionisio 2, Lee 0, Verano 0, Alfaro 0, Escoto 0.
Ginebra 73 – Holt 16, Gray 13, Rosario 12, Abarrientos 11, Estil 9, J.Aguilar 5, Cu 3, Torres 2, David 2, Thompson 0.
Quarterscores: 23-14, 36-30, 61-48, 80-73.
