Barangay Ginebra playmaker L.A. Tenorio doesn't mind doing double duties in the Gilas Pilipinas pool for the Southeast Asian Games.
Gilas coach Tim Cone has tasked Tenorio, along with the five other Gin Kings in his SEAG pool, to help him "coach" the nine non-Ginebra stalwarts as they try to learn the system of the multi-titled tactician in their limited preparation time.
"I'm very excited because I'm coaching not just young players, I'm coaching veterans and superstars," said Tenorio.
"Imagine, if all those guys will listen to me, it's an achievement for me to teach June Mar, Chris Ross, Matthew Wright and even Jayson Castro, makinig sila sa akin and I see them doing things na tinuturo ko sa kanila with the system, I'm okay na, kahit hindi na ako maglaro. In that way, nakatulong na ako sa team na ito," he added.
The SEAG-bound Gilas pool will just have 10 practices before the December SEA Games so Cone has stressed the importance of picking up his plays as quickly as possible.
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"I think that's why Coach Tim went to players na veterans talaga, iyung may experience in the National Team. Actually kung itong ang team na ito nasa Ginebra, hindi mahirap, you know what I mean? Itong group na ito, I don't think na (mahihirapan matuto)," he said.
This, he said, was evident in their first practice last Monday.
"Noong first day nga lang, tinuro ni Coach Tim yung basic namin, as in nakuha kaagad nila. Actually hindi namin ine-expect na mapupunta kami sa second option, and then we went pa to third option. Ganoon kabilis, so again, hindi na kailangang ituro pa nang matagal kasi nga, alam na rin nila, they know how to play also, they know the kind of game in the national team," he said.
On a personal level, Tenorio said he feels blessed to return to Gilas and don the country's colors in a tournament he hasn't competed in before.
"Hindi ko in-expect. No one expected that Coach Tim will be the head coach also. Noong na-appoint siya dito, siguro parang naging sigurista lang siya na merong may alam ng sistema niya," said the veteran guard.
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"It's an opportunity again for me to play for the national team, so why not? Maybe, maybe, this is the last time, why not? And this is my first time to play in the SEA Games. I played in SEABA and Asian Games but this is my first time so I hope maging maganda itong stint namin sa SEA Games," he said. (OL)
