Photo credit: SBP

Guess who's stepping up for the next generation of basketball stars? It's none other than LA Tenorio. Yep, the Barangay Ginebra San Miguel point guard, who’s pretty much seen it all in Philippine basketball, is now taking on a new challenge as the head coach of Gilas Pilipinas Youth.

At 40 years old, Tenorio isn’t just bringing years of experience on the court—he’s bringing the heart and mindset of a true champion. Think about it: this guy’s been shining under the spotlight since grade school. From playing for Adamson and San Beda under iconic coaches like Charlie Dy and Ateo Badolato to dominating in Ateneo with legends like Joe Lipa and Norman Black, Tenorio’s journey has always screamed “basketball greatness.”

Drafted fourth overall in 2006, Tenorio started making waves with Alaska, where he bagged his first PBA championship and Finals MVP in 2010 under Tim Cone. Fast forward to his Ginebra days, he’s added seven more PBA titles to his name, three of which came with him being crowned Finals MVP.

And now? The Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) is pumped to have him take the reins for the youth program. SBP President Al Panlilio didn’t hold back on the praise:
“The SBP is excited to have a true sportsman and role model in LA Tenorio as our Gilas Pilipinas Youth head coach,” said Panlilio. “He’s a natural leader and a winner on and off the court. He will teach our young athletes lessons they will use not only in basketball but in life as well.”

Here’s the kicker—Tenorio’s got serious street cred with SBP’s coaching greats. His ties with Norman Black, who leads grassroots development, and Tim Cone, who handles the elite level, make him the ultimate bridge between programs. And guess what? Tenorio didn’t hesitate when the opportunity came knocking. He already had a list of coaches he wanted to work with—how’s that for being prepared?

But Tenorio’s not just about coaching titles. He’s been a national team mainstay for over a decade, winning the Jones Cup in 2012, snagging silver in the 2013 FIBA Asia Championship, and battling it out in the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup.

Oh, and he’s no stranger to coaching. Tenorio had a four-year stint as an assistant coach for Letran under Bonnie Tan and was part of Tim Cone’s coaching crew in the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games, where Gilas ended a 60-year gold-medal drought.

For Tenorio, this new role is a big deal. “There’s a lot of pressure in the role because I’ll have big shoes to fill,” he admitted, acknowledging former coach Josh Reyes’ success in steering the team to two World Cups. But Tenorio’s all in. He’s running a system similar to Cone’s, making the transition from Youth to Men’s teams seamless.

And the SBP is all about this continuity. As Executive Director Erika Dy put it, “The goal is to complete the player journey from our grassroots to the elite level, and having a Youth coach who knows the system of coach Tim by heart will be beneficial for everyone involved.”

Big shoes? Sure. Big potential? Absolutely. With Tenorio at the helm, the future of Philippine basketball looks brighter than ever.