Free-agent LA Tenorio turns focus to coming Gilas Youth campaign

May 4 ------ LA TENORIO'S relegation to the PBA unrestricted free agent with rights to salary list of Barangay Ginebra likely has something to do with his stint as Gilas Pilipinas Youth head coach. Sources said that Tenorio will turn his full attention to the preparations of the youth team for the FIBA Asia U16 Cup SEABA qualifiers that is set to take place from May 24 to 30 in Pampanga. 

Gilas Youth is eyeing one of the two tickets to the Asia Cup set in Mongolia. Tenorio was relegated to Ginebra's unrestricted free agent with rights to salary list, meaning though the term is "unrestricted free agent", he is still under contract with the Gin Kings and will still receive his salary. However, as a UFA, he is free to sign with any other PBA ballclub outside of the San Miguel Corp. umbrella is he wishes to. 

To join another SMC team, Tenorio will need to be waived by all the other non-SMC teams. This practice is nothing new for Ginebra. When Joe Devance came out of retirement during the PBA Governors' Cup, Paul Garcia was also relegated to the unrestricted free agent with rights to salary list. Garcia is still with Ginebra to this day, and Tenorio isn't expected to leave the Gin Kings. 

The move is seen to create room for a roster spot that will be left by Tenorio. Jayson David is set to fill that role. 

Source: spin.ph