MAGNOLIA coach Chito Victolero was expecting his players to be sluggish when they returned to the practice court last week.
Instead, he was greeted by a pleasant surprise as the Hotshots showed little rust following a long absence from the basketball court.
“Masaya ako kasi kahit two months kaming nawala, ‘yung mga players di nagpabaya,” Victolero told Malaya-Business Insight yesterday.
“Hindi ko ine-expect na ganoon. Ini-expect ko, medyo sluggish pa. So I remembered ‘yung usapan namin a month before the start nitong practices we were talking about it. Na two to three weeks of training then laro na. Kaya I kept reminding them na huwag magpabaya,” added Victolero. “At least mga players ko hindi nagpabaya, nag-extra effort pa.”
Magnolia was among the nine teams that began their PBA pre-season practices in Batangas City starting last Thursday.
Per an IATF directive issued two weeks ago, the pros can conduct full-contact 5-on-5 scrimmages but the teams first need to get their players back in shape, a process that is expected to last for at least two weeks.
Not so for the Hotshots, according to Victolero’s assessment following their first two sessions at the Lyceum-Batangas and Batangas City Coliseum.
“I think hindi ganoon kalaki hahabulin ko in terms of conditioning,” he said.
“Sa tingin ko, medyo hindi mahihirapan. Siguro mga ilang days lang unti-unti ng makakabawi stamina nila,” added Victolero.
“Alis-kalawang muna. After that then we can go to scrimmages, 5-on-5. As of now makuha muna nila rhythm, timing, stamina. After siguro ilang days pa sa aming conditioning, mabalik lang ng konti sa kundisyon para tulong makaiwas sa injuries. Then tutok na ko sa chemistry, system para malaman ng mga bago. Kailangan naming i-integrate sila sa system.”
Victolero was referring to the team newcomers led by Calvin Abueva and Jerrick Ahanmisi, RR de Leon, Loren Brill and Alvin Capobres.
Victolero admitted team management is still looking for an alternate are where the entire team could stay and not be limited to just two hours per session.
“Five or four teams kami na naghahati sa gym, then merong disinfection pa in-between sessions,” explained the one-time Coach of the Year.
“Naghahanap and hopefully, sana, makakita. Pero habang wala pa, Batangas City muna kami,” added Victolero.
“Hirap din kasi players talaga. Bukod sa practice uuwi pa sila, bibiyahe pa sila. Marami kang dapat i-consider na factors. Hindi mo alam kung ano puwedeng mangyari.”
That’s precisely what Victolero, some of his staff and 10 of his 15 players did last week and intends to do again in their coming sessions starting today.
“This coming week baka ganoon din gawin namin. Back-to-back (practices until Tuesday), then we will have our swab (test) on Wednesday. Then Thursday Zoom training muna habang waiting for swab result. Then Friday resume kami, up to Sunday,” revealed Victolero.
“Hopefully, sana laging okay ang everything sa biyahe for those who could not stay there,” said Victolero. “Pero mas maganda, iniisip namin, kung mag-i-stay doon at least overnight.”
