FALLING short in its bid to advance to the finals of the PBA Philippine Cup will not deter the spirits of Magnolia. The Hotshots can always try anew, according to coach Chito Victolero.
“Thankful pa rin and blessed kasi we were in the top four of the last conference although the goal for us like we always achieve in the last four years is to be in the finals,” Victolero told Malaya-Business Insight yesterday.
“Medyo kinapos lang sa dulo, medyo kinulang lang ng kaunti pero blessed pa rin. Not bad.
Medyo malungkot and may frustrations lang kasi iyon ang goal namin, makarating sa finals,” he added.
The defense-oriented Magnolia five wound up as No. 3 team with an 8-3 mark after the eliminations and hurdled sixth-ranked NLEX 2-1 in the quarterfinals before losing to defending champion and second seed TNT 2-4 in their semifinals duel that ended with a numbing 74-87 loss in Game 6 last Sunday night.
Victolero said his troops are training their sights on the Commissioner’s Cup set to kick off on Sept. 21.
“We will try again next conference. For now, rest and recover muna kami from injuries because banged up talaga kami,” Victolero said. “After two weeks or in the first week of September most likely babalik na kami sa ensayo.”
Magnolia has yet to tap its import for the mid-season tourney after the team tried to link up with NBA G League veteran Paris Bass. The Utah Jazz signed Bass to a contract earlier this month.
“As of now wala pa kaming import,” Victolero said. “Si Paris Bass sana kaso napapirma ng Utah Jazz.”
Victolero said he has no plans to break up the Hotshots’ core led by the likes of Calvin Abueva, Ian Sangalang, Paul Lee, Mark Barroca, and Jio Jalalon.
“When we acquired Calvin (Abueva) last season, and si AD (Aris Dionisio), and when we drafted James Laput and got Adrian Wong, that’s the start na nabuo ang samahan ng players ko. Very particular ako sa chemistry,” he said. “Naniniwala ako na if your team has chemistry, you meet your goals.”
Lee said Magnolia is out for payback.
“Very proud pa rin kasi we fought until the end. Iyon naman ang gusto ni coach, nag-stick kami sa game plan hindi lang talaga pinalad, kinapos lang talaga. I think compared doon sa una naming series sa TNT much better iyong pinakita namin defensively,” Lee said.
“Pero iyon nga, TNT is a great team so figure out namin kung ano iyong dapat naming gawin pagbalik namin next conference. Iyon lang ang sinabi sa amin ni coach, wala lang titigil sa amin.”
