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Tag: LA Tenorio

  • LA Tenorio wants Magnolia to break a familiar cycle after opening-day loss in Governors’ Cup 

    LA Tenorio wants Magnolia to break a familiar cycle after opening-day loss in Governors’ Cup 

    For LA Tenorio, Magnolia’s opening-game defeat in the PBA Governors’ Cup was about more than just the final score. It was a reminder of a problem the Hotshots have yet to solve.


    Magnolia stumbled to a 98-86 loss against the Phoenix Fuel Masters on Saturday night, wasting a promising first-half performance before fading after the break in its debut in the season-ending conference.

     

    The setback immediately brought back memories of the team’s previous campaign, where Magnolia often found itself digging out of early deficits. Tenorio believed those experiences should have already shaped the team’s mindset entering a new tournament.

     

    “Of course, it’s only the first game. But we have to learn from the last conference na lagi kaming naghahabol,” Tenorio said.

     

    Instead, the Hotshots followed a familiar script. After taking a halftime lead, Magnolia lost control in the third quarter as Phoenix seized the momentum and never looked back, forcing the Hotshots into another unsuccessful comeback attempt.

     

    Tenorio was visibly disappointed with how his team approached the second half, believing Magnolia lost its edge once the game tightened.

     

    “Nung simula na ng laro, champion na kami. Pag sa simula lang ng laro kami magaling,” Tenorio said after the game.

     

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    The coach also refused to pin the defeat on the early foul trouble of import KJ Buffen, who finished with 15 points. 

     

    While Buffen’s limited availability affected Magnolia’s rotation, Tenorio insisted the team should have responded better instead of becoming too dependent on its reinforcement.

     

    “We can’t rely on our import all the time. If we need to play all-Filipino, then so be it. We fell into the trap na kanya-kanya,” said the Magnolia coach. 

     

    For Tenorio, the bigger concern was how Magnolia’s collective effort disappeared after halftime. He pointed to the team’s lack of energy and urgency, particularly at the start of the third quarter, when Phoenix wrestled control of the game.

     

    “We were outhustled at the start of the third quarter,” Tenorio said. “I don’t know if we were affected by the foul trouble of our import, but it’s not an excuse.”

     

    The opening loss puts added importance on Magnolia’s next assignment as the Hotshots try to avoid falling further behind in a competitive Group B that also features Barangay Ginebra, Meralco, and Rain or Shine.

     

    Magnolia will look to regroup on Friday when it faces Blackwater at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium. The Bossing head into the matchup with momentum after pulling off a 131-108 upset victory over Rain or Shine, giving the Hotshots another early challenge as they search for their first win of the conference.

     

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  • “We’ll take this win, but no time to celebrate”: LA Tenorio on staying focused after overcoming Meralco’s twice-to-beat edge

    “We’ll take this win, but no time to celebrate”: LA Tenorio on staying focused after overcoming Meralco’s twice-to-beat edge

    The season is still alive for the Magnolia Hotshots — but for head coach LA Tenorio, the job is far from finished.


    Magnolia completed another comeback act against the Meralco Bolts on Wednesday night, escaping with a 95-89 victory at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium to erase Meralco’s twice-to-beat advantage in the Philippine Basketball Association Season 50 Commissioner’s Cup quarterfinals.

     

    After beating the Bolts twice within four days, the Hotshots forced a sudden-death showdown set for Saturday, May 16.

     

    Import Clint Chapman delivered when Magnolia needed him most, finishing with 21 points and 12 rebounds. Jerom Lastimosa backed him up with 17 points as the top-scoring local for the Hotshots.

     

    Magnolia looked headed for a comfortable finish after building a lead that stretched to 19 points, but Meralco stormed back late and even grabbed the advantage inside the final five minutes.

    The turning point came with the score tied at 84.

     

    Chapman buried a clutch three-pointer to swing momentum back to Magnolia before setting up Zavier Lucero for a crucial layup that pushed the lead to 89-86 with 1:56 left.

     

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    Lastimosa later had a chance to seal the game from the line but missed two free throws with 22 seconds remaining. 

     

    The rookie, however, made up for it immediately by securing the offensive rebound, drawing another foul, and calmly sinking two free throws to stretch the lead to 93-88 in the final 17 seconds.

     

    “I have to give credit to the players for responding to my challenges,” Tenorio said.

     

    “But again, we haven’t achieved anything with this win. We just extended our lives (but) we’ll take this. We’ll take this win, but no time to celebrate,” he added.

     

    While Magnolia thrived under pressure, Meralco struggled to get steady production from import Marvin Jones, who finished with just 16 points on an off shooting night. 

     

    Chris Newsome carried the Bolts with a game-high 23 points, but it was not enough to stop Magnolia’s fightback.

     

    Now, with momentum suddenly shifting, the Hotshots head into the do-or-die clash believing their season still has more to give.

     

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  • LA Tenorio confident as Magnolia enters PBA playoffs on three-game winning streak 

    LA Tenorio confident as Magnolia enters PBA playoffs on three-game winning streak 

    After weeks of grinding through a demanding elimination round schedule, the Magnolia Hotshots closed out their 2026 Philippine Basketball Association Commissioner’s Cup campaign on a high note, overpowering the Meralco Bolts, 93-76, on Sunday, May 10, at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.

     

    The emphatic victory marked Magnolia’s third consecutive win and, more importantly, secured the franchise a coveted playoff berth. The Hotshots wrapped up the elimination round with a solid 7-5 win-loss record, good for fifth place in the standings heading into the quarterfinals.

     

    For Magnolia, the triumph represented more than just another entry in the win column. It was the culmination of a late-season surge fueled by urgency, discipline, and a renewed sense of confidence under head coach LA Tenorio.

     

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    Facing a Meralco squad known for its physicality and defensive toughness, the Hotshots displayed composure on both ends of the floor. Magnolia dictated the pace for most of the contest, tightening its defense in the second half while capitalizing on transition opportunities and efficient offensive execution. The convincing margin of victory underscored the team’s growing chemistry at precisely the right moment of the conference.

     

    Tenorio, who continues to navigate his first conference as Magnolia’s head coach, praised his players for embracing a playoff-like mentality even before officially securing their postseason spot.

     

    “This is a good ano, the past three games actually we have been in a playoff mentality already. I challenge the players, I challenge my team that this kind of game, ito yung magbibigay sa amin ng chance going to the next level,” Tenorio said during the postgame press conference.

     

    The former PBA star emphasized that Magnolia’s recent stretch of games tested the team’s character and preparedness against elite competition. According to Tenorio, developing confidence against stronger opponents was crucial as the Hotshots prepared for the win-or-go-home atmosphere of the playoffs.

    As fate would have it, Magnolia is set to face the Bolts once again in the quarterfinal round, setting up an immediate rematch between the two squads. Despite the challenge ahead, Tenorio expressed confidence in his team’s ability to compete with any opponent in the field.

     

    “This is a good win for us going into this playoff game. Especially yung nga we need confidence kung Meralco man makakalaban namin we need this kind of confidence na we can, we can match up with this team.

     

    “Alam mo kahit sino makalaban mo sa taas eh. I mean they are on top four for a reason, we will be ready. Definitely. They way we are playing right now, I think, not I think, I’m confident with my players and my team,” he added.

     

    The upcoming playoff appearance also carries added significance for Magnolia after the disappointment of the previous conference. In the last tournament, the Hotshots entered the postseason as the sixth seed but saw their campaign cut short by the TNT Tropang Giga.

     

    Rather than dwell on that setback, Tenorio believes the experience became an important learning opportunity for both the players and the coaching staff. The team underwent several adjustments since then, including improved roster chemistry and the successful integration of its import, whose presence has helped elevate the team’s overall play.

     

    “Yung failure namin last conference we learned a lot from that one. Again it’s a completely different situation now. There’s a lot of changes also. Plus our import, nakaka-blend talaga import namin. The players love playing with our import and the same way the import loves playing with our locals. Definitely maraming learnings. Me also as a rookie coach, maraming learnings from the last conference,” Tenorio concluded.

     

    With momentum now firmly on their side, the Hotshots head into the quarterfinals believing they are capable of making a deeper run this time around. Their improved chemistry, defensive intensity, and growing confidence have transformed Magnolia into one of the more dangerous teams entering the postseason.

     

    Magnolia and Meralco are scheduled to clash in the quarterfinal round on Wednesday, May 13, at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium, where the Hotshots will look to extend their winning streak and continue their resurgence in the Commissioner’s Cup playoffs.

     

     

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  • “Calvin is just being Calvin”: LA Tenorio says exchange with Calvin Abueva was simply brotherly advice

    “Calvin is just being Calvin”: LA Tenorio says exchange with Calvin Abueva was simply brotherly advice

    What was supposed to be a straightforward 106-94 victory for the Magnolia Hotshots over the Converge FiberXers instead turned into another chapter of intensity surrounding Calvin Abueva, whose presence once again defined the emotional tone of the game.


    The Hotshots moved into a joint seventh spot in the standings alongside San Miguel in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup, but the final scoreline was only part of the story as physical play, trash talk, and multiple confrontations unfolded throughout the contest at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.

     

    Magnolia head coach LA Tenorio found himself briefly drawn into the emotional exchanges with Abueva, who once played under him during earlier professional stops.

     

    “Calvin is just being Calvin. Even when we were playing against each other, he has been like that. He’s the type of player that if you’re irritated by him, talo ka.” said Tenorio.

     

    The tension began escalating late in the third quarter, when Abueva was pulled down while posting up against Alfaro, immediately triggering frustration from the veteran forward. Moments later, in transition, he attempted to disrupt a drive by Magnolia’s Paul Lee but ended up making contact with Lee’s wrist in a contested play, further fueling the rivalry on the floor.

     

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    Tenorio later described his interaction with Abueva as more mentorship than confrontation.

    “So it’s just me talking to Calvin and being his kuya also, reminding him to just keep playing,” the former veteran player and now head coach of Magnolia said.

     

    The fourth quarter saw the situation peak. Abueva was first slapped with a technical foul after exchanging words with officials, then just seconds later was involved in another controversial sequence when he caught Zavier Lucero with an elbow in mid-air, resulting in a flagrant foul. Fortunately, Lucero avoided injury and still delivered a strong all-around performance.

     

    “I’m alright, I’m alright,” said the former UP Fighting Maroons.

     

    After the game, Abueva declined to speak to reporters, having already been sanctioned earlier in the conference for comments deemed detrimental to the league.

     

    Tenorio, meanwhile, downplayed the sideline exchange after the final buzzer.

     

    “Wala siya. Nag-walkout din siya. Again, it’s just Calvin being Calvin,” he said.

     

    Despite the emotional undercurrent, Magnolia walked away with the crucial win as they prepare for a tougher stretch ahead, including a matchup against the unbeaten Rain or Shine Elasto Painters on April 25. Converge, on the other hand, looks to regroup quickly as it faces TNT on April 22 at the same venue.

     

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  • LA Tenorio keeps Magnolia grounded ahead of ‘Manila Clasico’ game against former team Ginebra 

    LA Tenorio keeps Magnolia grounded ahead of ‘Manila Clasico’ game against former team Ginebra 

    For most teams, a Manila Clasico is the kind of game that naturally pulls attention away from everything else.

     

    The buildup is louder, the emotions are heavier, and the spotlight almost always grows bigger than the actual standings. But for LA Tenorio, Magnolia’s upcoming showdown with Barangay Ginebra is not a night to get swept up in nostalgia or noise.

     

    It is, more than anything, another chance to keep his team moving in the right direction.

     

    Now in the middle of trying to steer Magnolia out of an early hole in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup, Tenorio has made it clear that the Hotshots cannot afford to treat Friday like just a rivalry event. 

     

    For him, the bigger concern is still what kind of team Magnolia is becoming under his watch.

    “Manila Clasico, it’s a big game for the PBA, for the fans, but overall as a team we are really focusing on the things that we want to worry about, the things that we need to get better,” said the 41-year-old.

     

    “‘Yun ang importante sa amin.”

     

    That mindset came into sharper focus after Magnolia’s 85-70 win over Terrafirma on Tuesday, a result that gave the Hotshots their second straight victory after opening the conference with three losses.

     

    The win did not suddenly erase the flaws of Magnolia’s shaky start, but it did offer another sign that the team may finally be finding some traction. With new import Clint Chapman once again leading the way and the veterans settling in around him, the Hotshots have at least begun to look more like themselves.

     

    Still, Tenorio is not acting like the turnaround is complete. Even with the momentum of back-to-back wins, he knows Magnolia is still trying to climb out of a hole — and that the record says there is still plenty of work left to do.

     

    “We’ll be ready also not because it’s Ginebra, and Manila Clasico, but because we need to get ready because we’re still below .500 in the standings,” pointed out the former star PG as they’ve only hiked their record to 2-3.

     

    That may be the most telling part of how Tenorio is approaching this stretch. For someone whose own playing career was deeply tied to Ginebra and to many of the biggest rivalry games in the league, it would have been easy to lean into the emotional side of facing his former team again. Instead, he has chosen to frame the matchup through urgency and development.

     

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    That says a lot about where Magnolia is right now.

     

    The Hotshots are not entering Friday as a team chasing drama. They are entering it as a team trying to stabilize its campaign, level its record, and continue adjusting to the new system being introduced by a first-year head coach still shaping the group in his own image.

     

    That challenge becomes even tougher considering the opponent. Ginebra is coming off an 85-82 loss to San Miguel, a game in which the Kings let a 15-point lead slip away before falling on a late Don Trollano corner three. It was the kind of defeat that tends to sharpen the focus of Tim Cone-coached teams rather than shake them.

     

    And Tenorio knows that better than most. Having spent years under Cone and with Ginebra, he understands exactly how dangerous the Kings can become after a frustrating loss. That familiarity is not making him comfortable — if anything, it is making him more cautious.

     

    “I know Ginebra will be ready after the bad loss last game. I know Coach Tim, he’s gonna make his team ready going into Friday’s game,” he said.

     

    That is part of what makes this version of the Manila Clasico a little more layered than usual.

    On one side is a Ginebra team trying to recover quickly and get back above .500. On the other is a Magnolia squad beginning to string wins together, but still trying to define itself under a new voice on the sidelines.

     

    And somewhere in the middle of all that is Tenorio, one of the most recognizable former faces of the rivalry, now trying to lead from the other bench without letting the occasion distract from the process.

     

    That may be his biggest task right now. Because while Friday’s game will naturally come with all the energy and emotional charge that Manila Clasico always carries, Magnolia’s season will not be decided by one rivalry result alone. 

     

    What matters more is whether the Hotshots continue to grow sharper, more disciplined, and more comfortable in the way Tenorio wants them to play.

     

    That is the part he seems most locked in on. “Yes, it’s Manila Clasico, it’s big, probably bigger than any of the normal games, but I’m not worried about that. I’m worried about us, how we will play on Friday, and then after Friday. ‘Yun lang yung importante sa akin ngayon,” he said.

     

    And for Magnolia, that may be exactly the right mindset to have. Because if the Hotshots are going to turn their campaign around for real, it cannot just be about winning the loudest games. It has to be about becoming steady enough to win beyond them too.

     

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  • “Trust the process”: LA Tenorio urges patience amid Magnolia’ struggles in the PBA

    “Trust the process”: LA Tenorio urges patience amid Magnolia’ struggles in the PBA

    The Magnolia Hotshots are still searching for answers after a difficult start to the ongoing Philippine Basketball Association Commissioner’s Cup, dropping their first three games to remain winless in the tournament.

     

    Magnolia’s struggles continued on Sunday, March 22, as they absorbed a 97–91 defeat at the hands of the Blackwater Bossing at the Ynares Center in Antipolo. The loss was particularly notable as it marked Magnolia’s first defeat to Blackwater since the 2021 Governors’ Cup, underscoring the team’s early-season woes and inconsistency on both ends of the floor.

     

    Despite the disappointing run, head coach LA Tenorio remains focused on the bigger picture, urging his players to stay patient as they adjust to a new system and continue to develop chemistry.

     

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    “It was really a heartbreak. But again, I was telling the players to really just keep on fighting. A lot of work to do especially on, again, it’s like putting on a new system. Masyadong matagal ‘yung habits na meron sila. We just keep on working, telling the players to trust the process,” Tenorio said in the postmatch press conference.

     

    The former PBA star acknowledged that Magnolia is currently in a transition phase, fielding a relatively young core that is still learning how to navigate high-pressure situations, particularly late in games. While the results have yet to follow, Tenorio expressed confidence that the team’s commitment to improvement will eventually pay dividends.

     

    “We might not win this conference, may mga ganung bagay ‘yan, but down the road, we are going to get our share of wins as long as we continue on working and staying positive about it. I want the players to stay positive all the time. We are really working hard in practice, no doubt. The thing is, siyempre, we have to translate it in the game. ‘Yung young team na ‘to, a lot of things that we need not only physically but mentally as well.

    “They have to learn how to play down the stretch. This is a young team so what do you expect? What I like with this team is they work hard everyday. They are willing to learn. They are willing to get better every day. They are listening,” he added.

     

    Through three games, Magnolia has shown flashes of competitiveness but has struggled to sustain momentum, particularly in crunch time where execution and decision-making have proven costly. Defensive lapses and inconsistent support from the local core have also hampered their ability to close out tight contests.

     

    One bright spot, however, has been the stellar play of import Nuni Omot, who delivered an all-around performance in the loss with 38 points, seven rebounds, and nine assists. Omot has been a consistent offensive engine for Magnolia, showcasing his ability to score from multiple levels while also creating opportunities for his teammates.

     

    Still, Tenorio emphasized that the team cannot rely solely on its import, calling on the local players to step up and contribute in meaningful ways.

     

    “We are playing good basketball because of our import. So what is happening to us is not all about the import. That’s what I’m telling my players. It’s still the locals. They have to share doing the little things for the imports,” Tenorio concluded.

     

    As the losses pile up, Magnolia finds itself in urgent need of a turnaround to keep its playoff hopes alive. The team will look to regroup during a short break, using the time to refine its system, build cohesion, and address key weaknesses on both ends of the court.

     

    The Hotshots return to action on Saturday, March 28, when they take on guest team Macau Black Knights at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. With time slowly becoming a factor in the conference format, Magnolia will be eager to finally break into the win column and spark a much-needed change in momentum.

     

     

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  • LA Tenorio on the fence over playing-coach role in the future

    LA Tenorio on the fence over playing-coach role in the future

    It was fitting that in the PBA’s historic golden season, one of its most influential players would reach a milestone reserved for the greats.

     

    When Magnolia Hotshots head coach LA Tenorio suited up against the TNT Tropang 5G in the Philippine Cup quarterfinals after a slew of backcourt injuries, he became only the seventh playing-coach in the league’s rich history.

     

    Magnolia eventually bowed down and exited the postseason, but it was still a mark of excellence not just for his player-coach feat, but for the success the Hotshots achieved during Tenorio’s first-ever head-coaching stint at the professional level.

     

    Despite the incoming returns of Jerom Lastimosa and Paul Lee from injuries in the upcoming conferences, Tenorio isn’t entirely ruling out continuing to be an on-court tactician for Magnolia.

     

    “We’ll see. Nag-playing coach lang ako kasi Jerom (Lastimosa) wasn’t sure kung makakabalik,” Tenorio said.

     

    “We’ll see. Ako naman I want to join practices for them to see kung ano yung..siyempre mga bata yan. They want to do things on their own right away,” he added.

     

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    Adding on to a decently successful season, Tenorio stressed that the players are still getting used to the system he integrated since being appointed at the start of the season.

     

    “And iniba ko talaga completely yung sistema nila for the past years na nasanay sila. So yung system nila, yung habits nila wasn’t there pa,” he said. “So medyo nahihirapan pa sila. Sometimes, nai-stuck pa sila, hindi nila alam kung ano ang gagawin.“So ‘yon ang kailangan naming planuhin at puliduhin this break.” 

     

    Magnolia will also take solace in the development of stars Lastimosa and Zavier Lucero, as well as the rise of rookies Yukien Andrada and Chris Koon, as franchise pillars ahead of Tenorio’s future as head coach.

     

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