Magnolia head coach Chito Victolero lamented that his Hotshots had celebrated too early, which backfired as the defending champions bowed to the Meralco Bolts in their 2019 PBA Governors’ Cup meeting Saturday night.
The Hotshots were already ahead by six, 92-86, with 4:38 remaining in the final quarter. They then lost their advantage as Raymond Almazan and the Bolts unloaded 12 straight points to turn things around and bag the 98-92 win.
“I think we were out-hustled, and they outworked us in the fourth quarter,” he rued.
“Maybe we celebrated too early.”
The loss is all the more difficult to swallow since the Hotshots also squandered a 49-33 lead, which they built in the second frame. For Victolero, the collapse is partly because their opposition out-rebounded them, 56 to 42.
Magnolia were clearly losing the rebounding battle down the stretch. Both Ian Sangalang and Paul Lee tried to will the Hotshots back into contention, but they failed, as Almazan and Baser Amer were able to secure their misses.
“Yung mga fifty-fifty balls, medyo napunta sa kanila in the fourth quarter because of their effort. It’s a battle of defensive possessions nung fourth quarter eh. Madami kaming hindi nakuhang rebounds,” Victolero said.
“They got a lot of offensive rebounds (18 to 10). Kung mapapansin niyo sa stat, medyo talo kami sa rebounds, double digits,” he added. “If we watched that rebounding we have a good chance. First half talo na rin kami sa rebounds,” he continued.
“Hindi kami naka-recover kaya yun, medyo masama. We gave up a lot of second chance points (18).”
The reigning Coach of the Year admitted that the loss stings since he and his wards have prepared long for the season-ending conference following their early quarterfinal exit in the 2019 Commissioner’s Cup last July.
But he quickly added that they can only move on and bounce back as they aim to defend their throne.
“Yes, of course. But we just try to move on. Hindi kami pwede mag-dwell dito sa talo na ‘to,” he said. “We’ll just try to bounce back and we’ll learn from this. Siguro nagkulang lang kami ng konting execution dun sa huli on both ends.
“But sabi ko lang we just have to stay together and stay positive sa mga susunod naming games.”
