But it has already happened, even if the Barangay Ginebra San Miguel star is still at the peak of his career.
The 34-year-old made his coaching debut Thursday when he served as an assistant coach for the Petron-Letran Knights when they took on the Che’lu Bar and Grill Revellers in their season opener in the 2019 PBA D-League.
“‘Di naman weird. Okay naman. Nagtuturo naman na ako ng mga bata for four years. It’s a different feeling lang kasi matatanda yung tinuturuan ko. They’re really aspiring to be professional basketball players,” said Tenorio, who founded the LA Tenorio Basketball Academy.
“It’s fun and very exciting na nagtuturo ng college players. Nakikinig talaga sila.”
Asked about how this coaching stint got brought up, Tenorio bared that it had been San Miguel Corporation sports director Alfrancis Chua who presented the idea, for him to help the players which the conglomerate is helping.
San Miguel has been supporting Letran since February 2018, the same time they became the backer of Alab Pilipinas in the ASEAN Basketball League.
“Actually, it’s because of boss Al talaga. They wanted me to help,” said Tenorio, who’s been with Barangay Ginebra since 2012.
“Since San Miguel is supporting Letran, I just wanted to help the players, yun yung naging storya.”
Tenorio, however, made it known that Ginebra is and will always be on top of his priorities.
“Oo naman. Again, yung priority ko pa rin is with Ginebra,” the 13-year league veteran said. “Actually, minsan-minsan lang ako nakakapunta ng practice [ng Letran] kasi almost the same time ng practice [ng Ginebra].
“When I’m in practice, I make sure na maraming natututunan yung mga bata kasi sayang naman.”
It hadn’t been the welcome Tenorio had wanted though as Petron-Letran lost, 94-96. But the four-time PBA titlist doesn’t have any problems with it, saying that will definitely help the young Knights grow as the season goes along.
“Yung mga veteran namin, sinasabi ko sa kanila, they really have to be composed sa endgame. This is a good experience sa kanila, itong liga na ‘to. I keep on telling them to be composed and make sure na ‘wag sila matakot magkamali,” shared the two-time PBA Finals MVP.
“The last shot of Jerrick [Balanza] is for me, a sign of how big his heart is. Alam mo yung, matapang siya. Yun naman yung gusto naming makita.”
