IN a way, Chito Victolero had an inkling of what was coming.
With a team that has been a consistent semifinalist like Magnolia underachieving in Season 49 of the PBA, Victolero admitted he was ready to accept his fate should coaching changes be effected within the Purefoods franchise.
Speaking for the first time since his exit as mentor of the Hotshots, Victolero believed the team failing to make the semifinals of the season-ending Philippine Cup - despite holding a twice-to-beat edge against TNT in the quarterfinals - was the last straw that prompted management to want a new voice inside the locker room.
“Nagulat na parang hindi nagulat. Pero every year naman ini-expect ko na if ever magkaroon ng changes, I’m ready,” said the champion coach.
“May factor din yung performance ng team. Hindi kami nakapasok ng semis at finals. Compared nung the previous year na nasa finals kami with Tyler Bey and nag-semis din. And this year, yung expectations hindi talaga ganun (naabot).”
The disclosure was made by Victolero in Saturday’s Power & Play program of former PBA Commissioner Noli Eala over One PH and 105.9 True FM.
In the biggest change in the offseason, Magnolia named active Barangay Ginebra player LA Tenorio as new head coach, as it parted ways with the 49-year-old Victolero after a partnership that lasted almost a decade and produced one championship and four other finals appearances.
Shoulda, woulda, coulda for Magnolia
After two playoff stints in the first two conferences, expectations were high on the Hotshots after they kicked off the all-Filipino Cup with six straight victories before eventually ending up with an 8-3 record.
They claimed the No. 3 seed after the eliminations for a quarters clash with the Tropang 5G, who faced a twice-to-win disadvantage.
But Magnolia blew away its playoff incentive, twice losing to TNT by a single point and missing the bus to the semis.
That 80-79 heartbreaker in the do-or-die encounter was decided by a missed Rafi Reavis rebound after being boxed out by Kelly Williams that resulted into two free throws by the former league MVP for the marginal points. Calvin Oftana then preserved the TNT win when he deflected Rome Dela Rosa’s inbound pass intended for Ian Sangalang in the Hotshots’ final play.
“It boiled down to one execution, one rebound, and one basket,” said Victolero of their final game of last season.
Looking back, the former PBA guard out of Mapua could look everyone straight in the eyes and proudly show the winning record he was able to establish in his stint with the franchise from 2016 to 2025, including the team’s last championship during the 2018 Governors’ Cup.
“I think for 22 conferences, hindi kami na-out sa playoffs. May panahon na andun kami lagi, hindi kami nawawala. Semis, finals, championship, semis again, and then finals,” said Victolero.
But last season was the first time the Hotshots weren’t in the semis since 2020 when the league held just a single conference due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Of course, they (management) expect na higher pa run,” admitted Victolero.
For someone who’s been in basketball all his life, the coach knows that simply put, you win some and you lose some.
As he put it, “Ganun talaga. May tinatawag na high and low sa coaching e.”
“Alam naman natin yung trabaho natin hindi naman forever. Of course, meron na rin akong ganung (idea),” he said, referring to the fate that eventually befell him. “But I’m always na may tiwala sa sarili ko at sa trabaho ko. Basta yun lang naman ang sinasabi ko na ibigay lang yung best ko kung anuman yung talent na nasa team ko. Basta ilalaban ko yun.
“But it’s my responsibility pa rin. Ako yung head nila (Magnolia), ako yung leader nila. So whatever happens to the team, inaako ko lahat yan. It’s my fault kung anuman ang mangyari.”
Nonethless, Victolero was grateful to San Miguel President and CEO Ramon S. Ang for the great opportunity given to him in handling a championship-caliber team like Magnolia.
He also thanked the players, coaching staff, and the entire organization for the nine years they’ve worked together.
Victolero said he’s currently busy tending to his businesses that includes apparel and a resort, and spending quality time with his family.
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