CHICAGO - When Chito Victolero vacated his spot at Magnolia last August after a nine-year run, it didn't mean the end of a career.
To the contrary, the five-month interlude potentially gave his coaching pursuit an afterlife.
While admitting that he missed coaching, especially the pressure that came with it and the comfort of a daily routine, he used his time off to nourish the soul.
"Naka focus ako now sa konting negosyo ko," he told me on my Homer Says Show last Thursday night on Powcast Sports
Victolero, who owns an apparel business and a resort farm, also relished on the simple, and often overlooked, pleasures of dropping off and picking up his kids at school.
He also spent a lot of bonding time with his wife and partner in life, cavorting in Japan and Baguio as he made up for lost time after working for 12 uninterrupted years in the PBA
TURNING A NEW CHAPTER
All the amazing vibes allowed coach Chito to be refreshed, recharged, and ready for the next adventure.
The landing spot is still to be determined but there is no shortage of options.
Mapua in the NCAA has eyes on him. So does the MPBL, which he doesn't consider an inferior league but a competitive one where he wouldn't mind "teaching and mentoring" players.
A return to the PBA is not out of the question. Unlike other team-coach divorces, his parting with San Miguel was amicable. That relationship is a bridge that's unburdened by fire and one that he can cross again if the opportunity presents itself
In the wake of the ongoing PBA Philippine Cup Finals, my podcast partner Pau Salud asked coach Chito on the best strategy TNT can employ against San Miguel..
HIS RESPONSE WAS STUNNING.
"Ipahuli ko na si June Mar (Fajardo) sa labas pa lang ng Araneta or Mall of Asia," he said with an impish laugh.
It was a side of him few knew he had, a great sense of humor.
Seriously, though, Victoelro thought Fajardo, with his size and high basketball IQ would be a handful. Still. he pointed out that the contributions from the support cast will be crucial.
It's an argument that proved golden a day later when Rodney Brondial, his former player, unleashed a fury of 17 points and 15 rebounds to repulse TNT in Game Five and move one win awat from the championship.
While joy and happiness now covers all the many facets of his life, coaching remains an integral part of his DNA.
And the itch to return has gotten increasingly more irresistible to ignore.
Which team would be so lucky to hire coach Chito Victolero somewhere down the road?
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