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LA Tenorio hopes a win over his former team Barangay Ginebra will be the ‘start of a good journey’ as Magnolia head coach
MANILA, Philippines – LA Tenorio aced his first test as a PBA head coach and it came at the expense of no less than his former team.
Tenorio guided Magnolia to a rousing start in the Philippine Cup as the Hotshots opened the league’s golden season with an 80-73 win over Barangay Ginebra at the Araneta Coliseum on Sunday, October 5.
Zavier Lucero, coming off an impressive run last season that saw him earn spots in the Second Mythical and All-Defensive Teams, delivered 17 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists, and 4 steals in the victory that marked a new era for the storied Purefoods franchise under Tenorio.
“I guess they really wanted to give this first win to me. So I really appreciate my players and I hope that this will be the start of a good journey,” said Tenorio, who played his final PBA game just last June when he and the Gin Kings lost to San Miguel in Game 7 of their All-Filipino semifinals.
Tenorio got solid performances from Javi Gomez de Liaño and Jerom Lastimosa as well.
Acquired by Magnolia after a one-season stint in the Korean Basketball League, Gomez de Liaño chipped in 14 points on a 4-of-10 clip from three-point land, while Lastimosa also finished with 14 points to go with 5 assists and 2 steals.
Rome dela Rosa added 12 points for the Hotshots, who led by as many as 15 points, 63-58, after a blazing 10-0 start and remained in control for much of the fourth quarter.
Stephen Holt starred for the Gin Kings with 16 points and 17 rebounds, but his huge double-double went for naught as Ginebra missed the production of former MVP Scottie Thompson.
Also a part of the Second Mythical Team together with teammate Japeth Aguilar, Thompson went scoreless in nearly 32 minutes of play and tallied 3 turnovers.
Jeremiah Gray and Troy Rosario added 13 and 12 points, respectively, in the loss, while newly crowned Rookie of the Year RJ Abarrientos supplied 11 points and 4 assists.
Gin Kings rookie Sonny Estil had 9 points and 7 rebounds in his PBA debut.
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.
Barangay Ginebra 73 – Holt 16, Gray 13, Rosario 12, Abarrientos 11, Estil 9, J.Aguilar 5, Cu 3, Torres 2, David 2, Thompson 0.
Quarters: 23-14, 36-30, 61-48, 80-73.
– Rappler.com
