![Tyler Bey (No. 0) may be tearing down defenses, but contributions up and down the roster are what fuels Magnolia's current run. —PBA IMAGES](https://sports.inquirer.net/files/2023/12/Sports593887-620x422.jpg)
Tyler Bey (No. 0) may be tearing down defenses, but contributions up and down the roster are what fuels Magnolia’s current run. —PBA IMAGES
Chito Victolero was modest in his post-game interviews during Magnolia’s first six games in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Commissioner’s Cup. But on Sunday night, shortly after beating a perennial powerhouse to clinch a spot in the knockout stages, the Hotshots coach made a bolder-than-usual statement.
“We will not stop here. This is just the beginning,” he said after a 94-90 win over San Miguel Beer at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig City. “We’re blessed to be [set for] the quarters, but the ultimate goal is to go all the way.”
Magnolia extended its unbeaten streak to seven games that night, throwing the full weight of its roster against a short-handed Beermen squad that still managed to go down swinging even without the reigning league’s cornerstone and Most Valuable Player , June Mar Fajardo.
And that is where Victolero draws his confidence.
James Laput had his best performance this tournament, scoring 14 points and seven rebounds, while Aris Dionisio added another 10 from the bench, including the freebies that sealed the victory.
“It was our goal this offseason: We wanted to have a deep rotation,” Victolero said. “We’ve always had the same problem during the playoffs: when Ian (Sangalang) gets injured, or Paul (Lee) or (Jio) Jalalon, or (Calvin) Abueva [is out], we struggle. Now we have a deep rotation and we rely on our bench. They (the supporting cast) have achieved results and that is big for us and our confidence.”
Tight match
More than the balanced effort, Victolero said the experience of playing against a team like San Miguel in a tight game only makes Magnolia better.
“We need these kinds of games in the last part of the tournament because we all know this is what the play-offs will look like,” he said.
That assessment was echoed by Laput, who is emerging as a fitting reliever for Sangalang, who is still trying to regain his lethal form after a battle with hyperthyroidism.
“I feel like, especially because this game is so close, this is the kind of game we needed as a team to evolve more, reach more levels to prove ourselves,” he said. “This is the kind of game we need [to prepare ourselves] I will go to the play-offs without a doubt.”
With the exception of the Meralco Bolts, the remainder of Magnolia’s elimination bracket will be littered with teams touting a losing record.
But Victolero – hoping to stay true to his statement – isn’t taking these teams for granted. He promises to deal with Rain or Shine, Terrafirma and Converge as he did in the first half of the race.
“Rain or Shine is playing well at the moment, so we have to prepare for that out of town thing and be careful not to try to relax. We want to respect our opponents – and that’s why we’re doing well now,” he said. “We don’t look at their data.”
As Magnolia carefully navigates the tail end of the elimination round, NLEX’s approach exudes desperation.
Bolish trade
Citing the absence of top playmaker Kevin Alas, who tore a knee ligament for the third consecutive time, the Road Warriors (2-5, win-loss) will anchor their last-ditch effort for a playoff spot on spitfire guard Robert Bolick , following a three-team trade approved by the league Monday morning.
NLEX has included the rights to Bolick, a former NorthPort standout who went on to play in Japan, in a package that will send resurgent guard Don Trollano to San Miguel Beer.
The 5-3 fifth-ranked Batang Pier received Ben Adamos, Kris Rosales, Allyn Bulanadi, Jeepy Faundo and a pair of future second-round picks in the 2024 and 2025 Rookie Drafts respectively – for a player who essentially did not contribute to the team anyway.
The Road Warriors also received Kent Salado in the deal. INQ