FORMER Magnolia coach Chito Victolero finally broke his silence one month after he was relieved of his duties, his post given to Ginebra veteran star playmaker LA Tenorio.
While he steered the Hotshots to the PBA title in the 2018 Governors’ Cup, their failed bid to advance to the Big Dance—or at least even gain a semifinals stint—last season proved to be his undoing at the helm, which led management to hand him the pink slip after nine years.
“Nagulat na parang hindi nagulat. Pero every year, ini-expect ko na kapag may changes, we are ready,” Victolero said on the Power and Play program hosted by former PBA Commissioner Noli Eala over the weekend. “May factor iyong performance ng team. Hindi kami nakapasok ng semifinals, compared last year na nag-finals kami and nag-semis rin. This year, iyong performances at expectations ay hindi na-meet.
“They expect higher pa doon, pero ganoon talaga, may highs and lows sa coaching, pero this year, malaking factor iyong injuries. Pero lagi ko naman sinasabi sa team ko, kung ano iyong nandiyan, ilalaban natin,” he added.
Victolero, 49, insisted he has no hard feelings about the relatively younger and less-experienced strategist Tenorio getting the Magnolia coaching job.
“Lagi namang ganyan, so kaming coaches, ready naman kami sa ganyang sitwasiyon,” Victolero said.
“Si LA, kaibigan ko iyan. Wala kaming problema, nag-uusap kami, and I have respect kay LA. Puwede na talagang mag coach si LA, deserve naman niya iyan.”
Looking back, the former Mapua University standout and Cardinals’ tactician has no regrets.
“First of all, I’m very grateful to boss RSA (Ramon S. Ang, San Miguel Corporation chairman and CEO) for all the support sa Magnolia. Of course, siyempre, hindi mo naman talaga lahat makukuha. So, ang mantra ko, kung ano ang nandiyan, i-ma-maximize ko lang iyan,” he said. “Kung may players akong gusto tapos hindi natuloy, wala na iyon, that’s in the past. So, for me, wala naman akong sentimiyento na hindi ako nabigyan. Nasanay na ako noon sa Mapua, na ito iyong talent ko, I will maximize this.
“Iyong culture na iyong, nadala namin sa dulo. They told me just to rest, and then let’s see kung anong mangyayari sa future. For now, concentrate muna ako sa family ko and sa business. I translated Magnolia to be the No. 1 defensive team, and of course, one of the best in terms of chemistry. Na-translate ko rin iyong Magnolia to become a family.”
Coaches are hired to be fired—a lesson that Victolero surely learned the hard way.
