Chito Victolero still vividly remembers what transpired in the 2017 PBA Philippine Cup semifinals.
In just his first conference with the Magnolia (then Star) Hotshots after his KIA stint, Victolero steered his side to a commanding 2-0 lead over the then-ailing Barangay Ginebra San Miguel in their best-of-seven series.
Unfortunately, fate had other plans.
The Barangay – who did not have 7-foot slotman Greg Slaughter then, and with Joe Devance not a hundred percent – stormed back from their precarious position and won the series in seven games to head into the Finals.
“We still remember in the All-Filipino last year. In the Philippine Cup.
“We’re up two wins and yun talo kami sa series. I still remember that, my players still remember that,” recalled the 42-year-old mentor of that massive heartbreak.
Victolero and the Hotshots are recalling that series as they are currently in a similar spot. They are now up 2-0 over the Gin Kings, this time in the 2018 Governors’ Cup semifinals, following their 101-97 Game Two victory, Monday night.
“Yun ang magiging inspiration namin for this series,” said Victolero.
What’s different this time around is that this new Magnolia-Ginebra series is just a best-of-five affair, which means that a win by the Hotshots in Game Three this Wednesday, November 13, will end the Barangay’s two-year reign.
So much for redemption, indeed.
But as much as they can sweep their way to the semis, considering the way they have been playing, Victolero insisted that the Hotshots are not looking that far, as it might disrupt the way they view Wednesday’s game.
“Nako. Yan ang pinakamahirap,
“I haven’t experienced pa yan eh kasi bago lang ako eh. ‘Di ko iniisip yun. Basta one game at a time lang kami,” he added. “We’ll just try to prepare mentally for the game because we know Ginebra will bounce back hard.”
