For Magnolia Hotshots head coach Chito Victolero, the NLEX Road Warriors were simply the better team on Friday night.
Victolero admitted as much following the Hotshots’ 79-91 demise to the Road Warriors on Friday night in Game Four, which stalled their plans of taking a commanding 3-1 lead in their 2018 Philippine Cup semifinals series.
“I think we’re outplayed and out-hustled by NLEX. I think mas gusto nila manalo ngayon,” said the second-year Hotshots bench strategist after the bout.
The match had been a tight one in the first 24 minutes, until the Road Warriors came out firing in the second half by unloading 14 straight points for a 55-39 lead in the third — enough to gain cruise control en route to the victory.
“Bad start kami nung third,” rued Victolero. “Bago kami lumabas ng dugout, reminder ko sa mga bata, we need to start strong in the third. If we want to win this game, nasa third quarter kung ano yung gusto naming mangyari.
“Yun nga, mas ready yung NLEX.”
Asked if the absence of Marc Pingris is now hurting Magnolia, Victolero doesn’t really think so. But he addressed that he wants to see more from his other bigs, such as Aldrech Ramos, Kyle Pascual, and Rodney Brondial.
“We need to find ways pa or we need other bigs pa na mag-step up like Aldrech, Kyle and Rodney, kahit papaano may makuha kami on both ends, defense and offense,” said the 42-year-old, as the trio scored just a total of 11 points.
“Siguro yun lang. Yung bench namin need mag-step up pa kasi ngayon talo kami sa bench scoring e,” added Victolero, as their supporting cast was completely outplayed, 30-68.
“Kailangan yung bench, kahit papaano, maka-contribute.”
The series is definitely far from being over. And for Victolero, this is now the time where he needs his wards to come together and play as one despite the challenges coming in their way.
“Sabi ko nga sa kanila, it’s down to a best-of-three series,” disclosed Victolero. “We need to play together and stay together. We experienced it last season and if it goes to a best-of-seven, okay lang. Kumbaga kung Game Seven, Game Seven.
“One game at a time muna.”
