Whatever he’s enjoying right now with the Magnolia Hotshots, coach Chito Victolero thanks Kia for it.
A former assistant to then-Kia head coach Manny Pacquiao, Victolero has been with the Hotshots for over a season now. And in the time he has spent with them, the 42-year-old has been showing that he’s the perfect man for the job.
Back in 2015, Victolero was given the biggest break of his career when the young franchise tapped him to be their chief tactician whenever Pacquiao was not around.
“It’s a big opportunity for me na mag-coach ng Kia.
“And then, yun nga, dumating yung mas bigger opportunity na mag-coach ng Magnolia, which is mas malaking pressure,” reflected the former Mapua Cardinals head coach, who compiled a 15-29 record with the Columbian Autocar Corporation-owned franchise.
What stood out the most were the team’s inspiring runs in the 2015 Commissioner’s Cup and the 2015 Governors’ Cup, that saw Kia barely miss the playoff boat.
However, his relationship with the franchise soured in 2016, resulting in his resignation back in April of that year.
It was his patience and fortitude that led him to the historic Purefoods franchise.
After just six months, a new opportunity opened for the youthful mentor. But there was a lot of work to be done.
Besides trading the simple Kia polo shirt to a sleek long-sleeve — a requirement for the coaching staff of Purefoods — Victolero inherited a disgruntled Hotshots from Jason Webb in 2016.
The team were coming off a disappointing 11-22 win-loss total in the 2015-2016 season, and had just let go of Purefoods lifer and two-time Most Valuable Player James Yap.
But when he took over the coaching reins, he made the team’s rebuilding phase seamless. Victolero steered the team to three straight semifinal appearances in his first season — or, as he coined it, a “semis Grand Slam.”
Victolero has definitely proven that he belongs in the pro league. But for him, all that he has done with this current batch of the Hotshots is simply gather them to be on the same page — the same thing he had done with Kia before.
“Ang Kia, siyempre we lacked talented players. Pero yun nga, because of their hearts, because of our chemistry din between the players and the coaching staff, kahit papano nagiging maganda mga laban, minsan nakakapanalo pa.
“So sabi ko, kahit na ang isang team ganito lang, as long as we are playing together, we have a chance. So I think yun yung nadala ko rito sa Magnolia franchise, na yung mga players, they’re playing together as a team,” he added.
Now, in his fourth conference with Magnolia, Victolero has gotten yet another achievement: he has steered the Hotshots en route to the 2018 Philippine Cup Finals — his first-ever trip to the Finals as a bench strategist.
“Thankful ako and at the same time, excited,” shared the product of Mapua University, who is known to be a player’s coach.
But as achievements come, taller orders come, too. The Hotshots will face the San Miguel Beermen — the reigning, three-time All-Filipino champions — in a best-of-seven series that will commence this Friday, March 23.
All eyes are now on Magnolia for how will they come up with various schemes to try and stop the Beermen’s Fab Five — the best starting line-up in the league right now — led, of course, by reigning, four-time MVP June Mar Fajardo.
Victolero is aware that this challenge in front of him and his wards brings a lot of pressure. But he isn’t unfazed.
“Yung pressure, nandoon naman lagi yan,” said the former PBA cager with defunct teams Sta. Lucia Realtors and FedEx Express.
“As long as you’re ready, as long as nagpe-prepare ka ng maayos, nababawasan yung pressure.”
