Tenorio reacquainting with Cone’s triangle offense

MANILA, Philippines – Veteran Barangay Ginebra guard LA Tenorio said the long preseason training gives the team the window of time needed to get itself reacquainted with the triangle offense under new coach Tim Cone.

Tenorio said the Gin Kings have an idea how the “triangle” works during the two-conference stint of former coach Jeff Cariaso last year.

But the intricacies of the system require more than just relying on their experience to win under the PBA’s all-time winning coach.

“The good thing about this is mahaba ang preparation namin before the opening (of the new season). Eh sabi nga ni coach Tim, we’re gonna be quick in learning the triangle but were not gonna be in a hurry,” said Tenorio, who won his only PBA championship while playing under Cone during their time with Alaska in the 2010 Fiesta Conference.

Although he played five seasons for Cone during their time at the Aces, Tenorio admitted he isn’t claiming mastery at all of the famed offense invented by Tex Winter.

“It’s a process. Long term ang pag-understand ng triangle. I’ve been playing it for five years under coach and hindi ganun kadali,” insisted the Ginebra sentinel, who skipped joining Gilas this year to concentrate on joining Ginebra’s preseason buildup.

Ginebra was supposed to start training on Monday, but with some of the players still on vacation, Cone decided to move their preseason preparations to next week.

Nonetheless, Tenorio, along with other Ginebra players like Japeth Aguilar, Chris Ellis and Greg Slaughter, started working out with American conditioning coach Kirk Colier.

Although Ginebra will again enter the 41st season as one of the preseason favorites, Tenorio noted that the Gin Kings can only live up to their potential when they learn to play disciplined basketball and hard-nosed defense.

“No. 1 ang discipline and then defense under coach Tim,” said the 31-year-old former Ateneo guard.

“From discipline kasi comes defense and offense. Malaking word sa kanya iyun and I hope madadala niya sa Ginebra iyun,” he added.

Tenorio also tempered the expectations of the Ginebra fans, saying a semifinal or finals stint would be decent already for the team’s first season under Cone.

“Sana ma-adapt din naming mga players iyung triangle,” he said.

“Knowing we’re all excited and fresh for this season, sana makalagpas naman kami. This is our biggest chance na makapunta sa next level kasi parati kaming nakakapit lang sa quarterfinals,” explained Tenorio.

“This is a big chance for us to go up. I’m not expecting naman mag-champion agad. Kahit semis or Finals muna.”