LA Tenorio steps onto the court to start Magnolia’s new chapter

Magnolia’s season-ending elimination game against TNT was never just about seeding. It marked the opening act of a rare and demanding experiment — LA Tenorio stepping onto the court not just as a veteran guard, but as the Hotshots’ playing-coach.

At 41, Tenorio’s first decision in his dual role was a symbolic one. He didn’t ease himself in from the bench. Instead, he took the floor immediately, sharing the backcourt with Mark Barroca alongside Zavier Lucero, Ian Sangalang, and rookie Chris Koon. The move, Tenorio admitted, was intentional.

“We planned that para ma-feel ko agad yung game. Siguro ‘yun ‘yung na-feel namin na puwedeng gawin,” he said.

It was his first PBA appearance since Game 7 of last season’s Philippine Cup semifinals — still wearing Barangay Ginebra colors then — and the moment carried weight. Magnolia responded early, jumping out to an 11-4 lead as the presence of their coach on the floor seemed to settle the group. But when Tenorio checked out midway through the opening quarter, the rhythm shifted. 

TNT found its groove, eventually pulling away for a 94-83 win and securing the No. 3 seed with a twice-to-beat advantage.

“We had a good start. Sayang lang hindi namin na-sustain yung start namin,” Tenorio said after finishing with four points, two rebounds, and three assists in 13 minutes.

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PASOK, PLAYING-COACH LA!

LA Tenorio knocks down his first field goal, a three-pointer, to try and lift the Magnolia Hotshots in the third quarter against the TNT Tropang 5G in the PBA Season 50 Philippine Cup.#PBA50 #PBA50LID pic.twitter.com/m9UWJfqx58

— One Sports (@OneSportsPHL) December 21, 2025

Beyond the numbers, the night placed Tenorio into rare company — only the seventh playing-coach in PBA history, following legends like Robert Jaworski Sr., Ramon Fernandez, Norman Black, the late Bobby Parks, Allan Caidic, and briefly Manny Pacquiao. Even for someone with two decades of experience, the moment came with nerves.

“Merong kaunti,” he admitted. “Pero again, I’ve been doing that naman for my entire career. Even though I’m playing, parang nagko-coach na rin ako sa ibang players. Siguro yung leadership lang sa loob ng court.”

That leadership, he noted, was especially needed with Magnolia shorthanded in the backcourt.

“Dalawang guards yung nawala sa amin, e. Paul Lee is one of our leaders, para lang magkaroon ng kaunting tulong.”

Tenorio is fully aware that the hardest part of this new chapter lies ahead. Coaching from the sidelines is one challenge. Coaching while running sets, guarding quicker opponents, and managing rotations in real time is another entirely.

“Mahirap sa simula kasi kailangan mong ituro and at the same time, you have to be on the floor. Maraming kailangang isipin,” he said.

“Mahirap. It’s not easy, but it’s doable.”

The loss to TNT closed Magnolia’s elimination round, but Tenorio’s presence on the floor opened a new narrative — one where experience, leadership, and adaptability are being tested simultaneously. The result may not have gone Magnolia’s way, but the experiment has begun, and the learning curve is now part of the Hotshots’ journey forward.

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