MAGNOLIA coach Chito Victolero is bracing his team for at least another two weeks of sacrifices.
He’s just praying a reward is forthcoming, not only for the Hotshots but all the other PBA teams, in the form of the new season finally kicking off.
“Everybody, we’re sacrificing, kasi nga we all want to play,” said Victolero.
“Basta matuloy liga, hopefully, para ginagawa ng buong PBA kahit paano sana ma-reward naman,” added the one-time Coach of the Year.
“Sobrang hirap na rin, ilang buwan na rin tayong ganito. ‘Yung iba ngang teams nagpunta pa ng Laoag, iba-ibang provinces, para lang makapag-prepare. Hopefully, sana i-consider iyun.”
Victolero spoke after President Duterte announced on Monday night that Metro Manila and Bulacan have been placed under GCQ “with some restrictions” from June 16 to 30.
Whether PBA teams can conduct full-contact scrimmages in their usual practice venues within Metro Manila is still not clear, with league Commissioner Willie Marcial set to seek clarification on that matter with the concerned government officials later yesterday.
PBA teams are currently conducting their practice sessions in other provinces with more relaxed quarantine levels since mid-May.
Most of the teams, like Magnolia, have been practicing in Batangas, with TNT and Meralco opting for Laoag City and NLEX in Pampanga.
Victolero is hoping what they have been doing would be worth it once the PBA is allowed to start its long-delayed 46th season, hopefully by early next month.
“Hindi naman biro-biro itong ginagawa ng lahat sa PBA,” said Victolero. “Basta tiyaga lang talaga, kasi nga everybody wants (the season) to start.”
The former Mapua stalwart and one-time PBA champion gave his team as an example.
“Nu’ng una we were okay, kasi we were looking forward na makabalik sa Manila in a few weeks’ time,” he related.
“Ngayon, siyempre—lalo na sa players—sobrang hirap. Lalo pa ngayon, we’re practicing at 5 p.m. then babalik pa iyung iba ng Manila. ‘Yung iba lang minsan nag-i-stay, ‘yung iba hindi.
So you have to consider din the financial aspect para sa mga nag-i-stay,” added Victolero.
