Gilas U-16 Coach LA Tenorio On High Expectations At SEABA: 'We’ll Give Our Best And The Results Will Come'
New Gilas Pilipinas Youth head coach LA Tenorio has been hard at work preparing his U16 squad for the upcoming FIBA U16 Asia Cup SEABA Qualifiers Philippines 2025, which will be held from May 24 to 30 at the Bren Z. Guiao Convention Center in San Fernando, Pampanga. Tenorio is very excited, albeit under the pressure of mentoring such a young and talented squad.
"Well, I’m excited at the same time, siyempre, feeling pressured, dito sa first coaching responsibility ko with the Batang Gilas," the former Gilas Pilipinas star said after one of Gilas Pilipinas Youth's practice sessions at PhilSports Arena last week. "But, you know, in the end, will just have to enjoy my time and will just have to set a goal, which is really to develop these kids, to develop these boys, to be not only as a great basketball player, a great basketball player in the future, but as a great person also. So I think that’s the main goal."
"But obviously, you want to win it all in the tournament. But I’m excited at the same time, there’s always pressure. I’m excited at the same time, there’s always pressure, but I’m really looking forward to his challenge and responsibility," Tenorio added.
The 8-time PBA champion decided to tap the services of another Gilas Pilipinas star, Gabe Norwood, as one of his deputies. Norwood's wealth of knowledge of the game and experience with the national team is a huge boost for his coaching staff.
"Well, he’s [Gabe Norwood] a big factor dito sa coaching staff ko, kaya siya yung kinuha ko. Kasi, with our, actually kung nandito si coach Jimmy [Alapag], we’ll be together – three. But you know, the leadership that Gabe [Norwood] had during our national team stint and our experience, I think malaking bagay na malaman din ng mga bata kung gaano kahirap ang sakripisyo na kailangang gawin for the national team," Tenorio said. "Gabe is one of the players na makakapagbigay ng words sa mga bata regarding that because Gabe has been part of the national team when he started playing here in the Philippines."
Running his system and choosing the Final 12
Having played for coach Tim Cone with Ginebra and being one of his deputies for Gilas Pilipinas Men, LA Tenorio knows a thing or two about the famed Triangle Offense. The 10-time PBA All-Star admitted he wasn't keen on applying coach Tim Cone's system with the Gilas Pilipinas Youth team. However, he's running the defensive schemes of Gilas Pilipinas Men in the process.
"Actually, we’re not running the triangle offense but the defensive scheme[s] that the men’s are doing. So far, nagrerespond naman yung mga bata. Iba naman itong mga batang ito eh. We’re trying to be more – have that leeway sa mga bata. But, so far so good," Tenorio admitted.
As the FIBA U16 Asia Cup SEABA Qualifiers loom closer, Tenorio and his coaching staff will have the difficult task of choosing among the pool of eighteen U16 players to be part of his Final 12 for the tournament.
"Well, actually, that’s the hardest decision and the hardest part now, having a final 12, kasi lahat sila capable and lahat sila ay deserve to be in the final 12," the 4-time PBA Finals MVP said. "So, we’ll have this deliberation kami ng mga coaching staff a day or two days before the tournament. We’ll see what will happen."
High expectations playing on home turf at SEABA
Vietnam will be the Gilas U16 squad's first assignment at SEABA on May 24 at the Bren Z. Guiao Convention Center in Pampanga, Philippines. Tenorio, however, admits that the pressure and expectations are high, especially playing in front of the home crowd. Despite it all, Tenorio said he and his U16 squad will give their absolute best at the tournament.
"Well, expectations are high, especially when you’re playing in your home [turf], but you know, it’s always there. Again, the pressure is always there. The expectations are always there, wherever we go, especially in Philippine basketball. Lahat naka tingin sayo. Lahat inaantay ka magkamali," Tenorio stressed.
"But, in the end, we’re just gonna play our game. We’re gonna play hard. For sure, the kids will play hard. And you know, we’ll give our best and the results will come. Let’s see kung ano yung magiging resulta but we’ll fight. We will fight. And for sure, until the end. And we’ll see what’s gonna happen," he added.