WITH playing coach LA Tenorio expected to play again, TNT Tropang 5G head coach Chot Reyes said they will be ready for his presence on the floor, going into Game 1 of their 50th Philippine Basketball Association Philippine Cup quarterfinals encounter on Thursday.
Tenorio, who recently retired from playing with Barangay Ginebra, made a comeback on Sunday, when he suited up for the Hotshots in their losing 83-94 encounter with the Tropang Giga in the last day of the elimination round at the Araneta Coliseum.
“We’re going to have to come up super prepared with their head coach there on the floor. We’ll just have to keep our level of play and energy,” said Reyes.
The Tropang 5G were able to secure a Top 4 spot and a twice-to-beat edge with their win over the Hotshots.
And this gives the Tropang 5G confidence in their quest for a best-of-seven semifinals seat.
“I knew he’s going to give the team some energy when he’s out there. This should not affect us,” said Reyes after the Tropang 5G became the third seeded squad with their 8-3 win-loss slate.
The Hotshots, who played with Tenorio on the floor in the first and third periods, took the sixth seeding at 6-5.
Tenorio, a talented point guard during his time with Ginebra, went on to finish with four points, two rebounds, and three assists during his 13 minutes on the floor.
Reyes hopes that the returning RR Pogoy will be able to hold his own again as an off-ball threat, during their encounter with the Hotshots.
In their initial encounter with the Tenorio-led Hotshots, Reyes said it was the team’s ability to hang tough which pulled them through.
