Magnolia head coach Chito Victolero only hopes for one thing and one thing only as they head into the PBA Season 48 Commissioner’s Cup semifinals.
“Stay healthy. That’s it,” he told Tiebreaker Times moments after their 109-94 ouster of TNT in the quarters, Wednesday night at the Philsports Arena.
“We need to stay healthy throughout the playoffs. ‘Di pa namin nagagawa yun e, ‘yung healthy kami lahat,” he furthered.
The crew booked another semis trip by putting their win-once playoff incentive into good use, and that also means another opportunity to shed what has been a criticism regarding their capability to go beyond.
Since making it to the 2021 Philippine Cup Finals, one of the league’s most successful franchises has only gotten as far as the semis in four of the next five conferences – including the ongoing import-laced tournament.
That’s mainly because of injuries or health woes that come their way either prior to or during the playoffs itself.
In just their 2022-23 Commissioner’s Cup series versus eventual champ Ginebra, Paul Lee got hit by flu-like symptoms.
(C) PBA Images
It’s also worth remembering that their 2023 Governors’ Cup campaign ended with a quarterfinal exit to Meralco.
They had to weather the whole tilt without lead big man Ian Sangalang due to a thyroid problem.
That’s why Victolero is hoping that none of his wards get hurt in the upcoming semis, where they’d face either the Bolts or Phoenix.
“We need to stay healthy lang in order for us to have a good chance this conference,” said the one-time Coach of the Year awardee.
“Kasi pagka ganung playoffs na, meron kaming mga issues na injuries, ganun. Hindi pa namin nasusubukan na healthy kami throughout,” added Victolero.
“Hopefully, magawa namin ‘yun.”
