Great news for Magnolia Hotshots fans: Your Pambansang Manok are healthy and raring to go, according to Chito Victolero.
The amiable coach bared the good news in the postgame presser after the Hotshots’ 106-84 rout of the Blackwater Bossing on Saturday in their 2024–25 PBA Philippine Cup debut. According to Victolero, the team’s four-week preparation has whipped the players in tip-top shape—and it will be up to the Magnolia medical staff to keep it that way.
“We try to give pressure on the medical staff to be healthy for this conference,” Victolero said.
Victolero did clarify that injuries are beyond the team’s control. But he reiterated that keeping the players healthy is being emphasized, especially after Magnolia campaigns in the Governors’ Cup and Commissioner’s Cup were torpedoed by injuries to Paul Lee, Ian Sangalang, Calvin Abueva, and Ricardo Ratliffe.
“Hindi namin kontrolado ‘yung injuries, but we’re trying to give emphasis on the health of the players, ‘yung recovery nila,” Victolero reiterated. “Sana ‘yung journey namin this conference will be a healthy one.”
Chito Victolero Spreads Out the Minutes as Magnolia Plays the Long Game
Not coincidentally, Victolero played all 15 active players against Blackwater, and the champion coach admitted that was by design, in part to help keep the Hotshots healthy this conference and in part to give the younger players a chance to shine.
“We’re not getting any younger. We have young guys that can play, like Jerom [Lastimosa], Zavier, and Aris [Dionisio]. As much as possible we want to spread out the minutes of Mark [Barroca], Paul [Lee], Ian [Sangalang], and Calvin [Abueva] para pagdating ng playoffs, they’re at their best,” Victolero pointed out. “We’re [also] trying to give opportunities [to the young players]. We’re very confident kina James [Laput], Jerom, Peter [Alfaro], Aris that they can contribute and have a bigger role this conference.”
Indeed, no one played more than 29 minutes against the Bossing, with Lucero (21 points, 7 rebounds) and Lastimosa (13 points, 5 rebounds) making an impact for Magnolia.
Now, the Hotshots and their fans can only hope that this positive start translates into a better conference overall.
The Magnolia medical staff will have a say in that, apparently.
