LA Tenorio debuts as Gilas Youth coach in SEABA U16 qualifiers

LA Tenorio at the bench for Gilas Pilipinas during the Fiba Asia Cup qualifiers. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

LA Tenorio is set to make his national team coaching debut as Gilas Youth gears up for the Southeast Asian Basketball Association (SEABA) U16 Qualifiers later this month in San Fernando, Pampanga.

READ: LA Tenorio shifts focus to Gilas Youth, off Ginebra lineup for now

The Ginebra guard will call the shots for Gilas Youth, which plays host to the regional tournament where teams vie for a spot in the Fiba U16 Asia Cup.

The games will be played at Bren Z. Guiao Convention Center, which will coincidentally hold a PBA game on Saturday between Converge and Ginebra.

“Obviously, based on rankings, we’re the highest-ranked team and next is Indonesia, but we know these youth teams,” said event director Butch Antonio during the Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum on Tuesday.

“Until you see them play—even though most of them are new—you can’t take them lightly.”

READ: LA Tenorio named new Gilas Youth coach with ‘continuity’ in mind

Joining the Philippines in the tournament are Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Singapore.

Antonio said the goal is not only to win but to make the experience special for all participating nations.

“What we like to happen is to make this a very memorable experience on and off the court,” he said. “We had many hostings before in the SBP, but every time you host a U-16 or an age group tournament, you always want to make it a little more special.”

Gilas Youth opens its SEABA campaign against Vietnam on May 24 at 7 p.m.