WITH a big bull’s eye planted at the back of his wards’ jerseys, Magnolia coach Chito Victolero urged his team not to cool down from a red-hot start in the season-ending tilt.
“We’re still far from our goal and we still keep on working hard every time we prepare for a game,” Victolero said.
“I think the key is preparation. It’s all about our mindset. We cannot afford to relax now because of our unbeaten record,” he added.
Unscathed with a 5-0 mark in the PBA Philippine Cup, the Hotshots are looking good in their drive to end a seven-year title dry spell, thanks mainly to a good mix of veterans led by Mark Barroca, Paul Lee, Ian Sangalang, and Calvin Abueva and their young guns in Zavier Lucero, JeromLastimosa, and Peter Alfaro.
Victolero’s decision to extend his rotation and give everyone minutes is also spelling a big difference as Magnolia seeks to reach the Promised Land for the first time since the Governors’ Cup in 2018.
The Hotshots advanced to the Big Dance in last season’s Commissioner’s Cup behind prolific import Tyler Bey but lost to the San Miguel Beermen 2-4.
In that conference, they zoomed to a 7-0 start but faded when it mattered most.
“Iyonnamanangisasa advantage siguronamin. We have a deep bench. I use 12-13 players every time and now I use 15,” Victolero said. “So, I think down the stretch or in the latter part of the conference, it might help us to have fresh legs. We have a system on our defense that we need some pace on defense and offense.
“So, iyong rotation namin very important saitinatakbo ng system namin. That’s why we keep on trying na mag-rotate para mas fresh iyong legs namin at magawanaminiyong gusto naming laro.”
Magnolia’s grit will be tested anew when it tackles NLEX on Sunday, May 11, at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
The 6-foot-7 Lucero could not agree more with Victolero.
“Whoever’s in front of us, whatever our next game is, the approach has to be the same. Preparation has to be the same, just like coach said. So, you know, we’re unbeaten right now. We want to keep it that way,” he said.
“We have to prepare the right way and we have to go into it with the right mindset. Any team can beat us on any given day and we know that. We just have to play the right way and come prepared and we should be fine.”
Maybe Victolero and the Hotshots have taken lessons to heart, reminded that it’s not how you start but how you finish.
