Magnolia’s trust and faith in head coach Chito Victolero did not diminish despite the Hotshots coming up short in the Philippine Basketball Association Commissioner’s Cup finals.
San Miguel Beer denied Magnolia of ending a six-year title drought after closing the best-of-seven championship series in six games.
Still, the Hotshots assured Victolero that he will get to keep his job.
“He accepted the defeat like a man. The team still has a lot to prove,” Hotshots team manager Alvin Patrimonio said on the sidelines of the league’s partnership announcement with ANTA last Thursday.
“He will be a long-term coach of the team. So far, his result as a head coach is OK. They love the team and the players.”
Victolero so far has one championship with the franchise. He steered Magnolia to the 2018 PBA Governor’s Cup throne at the expense of Alaska.
In the previous conference, the Hotshots finished the elimination round with a 9-2 win-loss record for the top seeding armed with a twice-to-beat advantage.
Magnolia defeated TNT, 109-94, to advance into the semifinals where it knocked out Phoenix Super LPG, 3-1, in the best-of-five series.
The Hotshots recovered from a 0-2 start in the finals to even the series at 2-2.
However, the Beermen’s firepower and championship experience proved too much for Magnolia to overcome as it crumbled in the next two games.
“That’s basketball. You accept the losses and prepare for the next conference,” Patrimonio said.
