LA Tenorio is anticipating a tough grind when PBA Governors' Cup champion Ginebra and Magnolia Ang Pambansang Manok clash in a Manila Clasico best-of-five semi-final series.
After making short work of the NLEX Road Warriors in Tuesday's quarterfinals, Tenorio expects the series to go the distance against the Hotshots, who dispatched the Blackwater Elite in the other quarterfinal match also Tuesday.
"It's gonna be a long series because it's gonna be a chess match," Tenorio said after Ginebra's 111-75 victory over NLEX at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
"Magnolia will come out really aggressive against us, knowing that we have their numbers. They're gonna be motivated playing against us so we have to be ready to adjust also," added Tenorio, who was included by national coach Yeng Guiao in the 20-man training pool for the upcoming window of the FIBA World qualifiers.
Ginebra enjoys a seven-game winning streak against Magnolia dating back to their last semi-final duel in the the 2017 Philippine Cup.
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In that series, the Kings overcame a 3-2 deficit by winning the final two games of the series to capture the league's most prestigious championship.
Notwithstanding Ginebra's edge, Tenorio is convinced that beating Magnolia won't be easy.
"It's gonna be a chess match kasi parehong defensive team," he said.
"I think it's gonna be a challenge for us to play against their guards kasi they're a guard-oriented team na nagko-complement sa import nila so we have to be mindful of that."(JT)
