From a young prodigy to a Philippine basketball icon, LA Tenorio’s journey has come full circle. The 40-year-old Barangay Ginebra San Miguel point guard has been appointed head coach of Gilas Pilipinas Boys by the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP), bringing his extensive experience and leadership to the program.
Tenorio’s history with the sport dates back to his sixth-grade days, playing for Adamson under Charlie Dy. He continued to shine at San Beda, mentored by the legendary Ateo Badolato during his high school years, and later honed his craft in college at Ateneo under respected coaches Joe Lipa, Joel Banal, Sandy Arespacochaga, and Norman Black.
Drafted fourth overall in the 2006 PBA Draft, Tenorio’s professional career flourished under Tim Cone, winning his first PBA championship and Finals MVP award with Alaska in 2010. Reuniting with Cone at Barangay Ginebra, the duo secured seven more PBA titles, with Tenorio earning Finals MVP honors in three campaigns.
“The SBP is excited to have a true sportsman and role model in LA Tenorio as our Gilas Pilipinas Boys head coach,” said SBP President Al Panlilio.
“He has excellent relationships with Coach Norman Black, who heads our grassroots program, and Coach Tim Cone at the elite level. LA will serve as the bridge between these two crucial stages. When we first approached him, he was immediately open to the challenge, even presenting a short list of coaches he wanted to work with. He’s a natural leader and a winner on and off the court. He will teach our young athletes lessons they will use not only in basketball but in life as well.”
Tenorio’s national team career is equally illustrious.
He was a vital part of the 2012 Gilas Pilipinas squad that won the Jones Cup and the team that captured silver in the 2013 FIBA Asia Championship. He also represented the Philippines in the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup in Spain.
Adding to his basketball resume, Tenorio served as an assistant coach to Bonnie Tan at Letran for four years and joined Cone’s coaching staff during the Philippines’ historic gold-medal win at the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games, breaking a six-decade drought.
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“Coach Tim is big on continuity, and that has been the reason why we’ve had a small pool for Gilas ever since he took over,” said SBP Executive Director Erika Dy.
“Appointing Coach LA as head of our age group teams in the boys’ level strengthens that process. The goal is to complete the player journey from our grassroots to the elite level, and having a youth coach who knows the system of Coach Tim by heart will be beneficial for everyone involved.”
The appointment came as a surprise to Tenorio, but he is eager to embrace the challenge.
“There’s a lot of pressure in the role because I’ll have big shoes to fill,” Tenorio admitted.
“What Coach Josh Reyes accomplished by making it to two World Cups is not an easy feat. But I’m excited to work with our young players and help them reach their full potential. I already talked to Coach Tim, and I’ll be running a similar system so our boys can easily transition to the men’s team.”
For Tenorio, this new chapter is an opportunity to inspire and guide the next generation of Filipino basketball players, ensuring that his full-circle journey leaves an enduring legacy in Philippine basketball.
