A FINALS loss anew in the last conference will certainly break the heart and spirit of any team but not Magnolia.
“Lagi ko namang sinasabi na I like our chances. Nakikita ko naman sa mga bata ko na grabe silang mag-trabaho and I’m very confident and I trust them kung paano nila i-execute iyong preparations namin this conference,” Hotshots coach Chito Victolero said.
“Although we fell short last conference, I’m proud of them and very happy because out of the 12 teams, we were the No. 2 team.
“Wala ka ng masasabi doon. It’s a blessing although iyon nga we want to achieve more–we want to win that championship. It’s not easy. We’ll try again this time. It’s a good start for us. Ang sabi ko nga as long as we start strong, we have a good chance,” he added.
Victolero spoke after his charges launched their bid in the PBA Philippine Cup with an emphatic 106-75 thrashing of the winless Converge FiberXers last March 16 before the pro league took a break for the All-Star festivities in Bacolod.
Magnolia is coming off a 2-4 defeat to San Miguel Beer in the Big Dance of the season-opening Commissioner’s Cup last February.
Fans and even armchair pundits alike promptly brought up a nasty insinuation on the Hotshots–they are “intro boys” or only good at the beginning especially after they emerged as the No. 1 seed after the eliminations of the import-spiced meet.
That’s just fine with Victolero.
“We don’t mind that. We just work hard. Whatever the opinion from other people, we will respect them. Basta kami we will work hard to have the opportunity to go to the finals again,” Victolero said. “Whatever they say “intro boys” or whatever they say. Kami naman we achieved something, alam naman namin kung ano iyong na-achieve namin.
“We are not the most talented team, we’re not the best in terms of line-up but I’m proud of these boys because in my opinion we’re best in chemistry.”
Magnolia is bracing for a titanic clash with Ginebra in the “Manila Clasico” this Easter Sunday, March 31, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum and nothing can hold back the Hotshots from their drive, according to Victolero.
