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Manila Bulletin devider Sports devider Basketball devider LA Tenorio: 'It's harder to beat teams now'

LA Tenorio: 'It's harder to beat teams now'

Published Aug 6, 2026 02:24 pm

At A Glance

  • Magnolia might have picked up a huge statement win against Barangay Ginebra in their last game — a victory that could spark a turnaround for the Hotshots after a rough start in the PBA Season 50 Governors' Cup.

Magnolia might have picked up a huge statement win against Barangay Ginebra in their last game — a victory that could spark a turnaround for the Hotshots after a rough start in the PBA Season 50 Governors’ Cup.

But head coach LA Tenorio is under no illusion that things would come easy now that they have the momentum on their side. He actually expects the other way around — one that will need his charges to toughen up entering the crucial stage of the double round-robin eliminations.

That resolve and belief will immediately be put to a strain test when Magnolia takes on Meralco at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium on Friday, Aug. 7.

“Definitely Meralco will try to bounce back against us because we beat them in the first round,” said Tenorio ahead of their 7:30 p.m. clash against the Bolts and will come after the curtain-raiser between the undefeated NLEX (6-0) and Terrafirma (2-4).

“Ito yung mahirap dito sa format na ito. May chance talaga na makabalik. It's hard to beat teams now in the PBA. What more kung twice mo pa tatalunin, mas mahirap.” he added.

Magnolia came away with a 112-98 win over Meralco in the first meeting.

The Hotshots, however, have no other choice but give their all to get a win especially that they are currently in a three-way log jam with Blackwater and Ginebra at the 3rd to 5th spots in the Group B standings.

They all have a 2-3 record and Meralco (2-4), with a win against Magnolia, could further complicate things.

“Our group is very unpredictable. We have to find ways to win every game, especially this coming second round plus the coming nine-week break. We have to be prepared for that. Again, we're going to take it one game at a time. We just have to do things that we need to do every game,” explained Tenorio.

The Bolts, however, are surely not only motivated to get back at the Hotshots but more so to end a two-game losing skid. Meralco suffered back-to-back loss to Barangay Ginebra and Rain or Shine.

Related Tags

Magnolia Hotshots Meralco Bolts LA Tenorio
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