CHICAGO -- Seven years since they last hoisted a PBA championship trophy, the Magnolia Hotshots have endured conference after conference of disappointment.
But if all good things come to an end, so do the unpleasant ones.
Slowly but surely, that slew of heartbreak at Magnolia is morphing into a breakthrough. It's the Hotshots' redemption tour, the revenge of the Introvoys.
READ: High five for Magnolia after 33-point romp over sorry Terrafirma
Five games into the ongoing Philippine Cup, Magnolia owns the best record at 5-0, standing on the shoulders of giants Ginebra (2-1), San Miguel (3-2) and grand slam seeking TNT (1-3).
Unlike prior letdowns, this surge doesn't look like a spur of the conference but a sustained effort at excellence that is a byproduct of the boot camp-like practices during the off-season.
With an infusion of young blood, the Hotshots are transitioning beautifully from the Paul Lee-Mark Barroca-Jio Jalalon era.
NEW BIG 3.
Make no mistake, the 36-year old Lee's rifle is still loaded, good for 10 points a game while shooting 3s at a 35.7 percent clip. Barroca, 39, is still highly-serviceable and belts 10 points and 4.6 dimes per game.
No disrespect to those two veterans with rings on their fingers, but Magnolia is now Zavier Lucero's team.
The sophomore sensation is averaging 19.4 points, 7.8 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.2 steals in five games while playing the most minutes at 30:24 an outing. Lucero is the ringleader of a new trio alongside Jerom Lastimosa and Peter Alfaro.
A star at Adamson, Lastimosa has brought his all-around fare in the pros and is averaging 9.6 points, 2.8 rebounds and 3.6 assists per game. No surprise there.
But Alfaro has been quite a revelation. A full-time starter, the Zamboanga native is an energizer-slash-stabilizer combo who's a smart decision maker and an ace 3-point shooter (5-of-12 in five games.)
And Ian Sangalang continues to be the rock in the middle averaging 13.8 points and seven rebounds per game. Although he is getting scant playing time (16:42 per), Calvin Abueva is still effective with 9.2 point and 6.4 rebounds per.
DOUBLE THREAT
While there are so many spots where individual brilliance has shined, Magnolia is undefeated because it's a great team as a whole.
The Hotshots are ranked No.1 in field goal shooting percentage at 47.6 (195-of-409); They're No.3 in points per game scored (106.4) and also No.3 in 3-point shooting accuracy at 35.2 percent (44-of-125).
This is, by far, the best coaching job yet by Chito Victolero since his glorious 2018 title run.
His mantra on offense is "take the best shot" approach. The pace is versatile, conducive to both fast and deliberate action. And the way he has shuffled his rotation is marvelous.
I am, however, still mystified why Lucero still comes off the bench. But that's a column for another day.
Defense has always been Victolero's bread and butter and he continues to feast on it as Magnolia is ranked No.3 in points per game allowed (88.6) and No.3 in field goal percentage allowed at 40.6 (156-of-384).
Chito preaches ball pressure all the time and he employs "fresh legs" for the mission, which explains why he's got manpower usage that can go 10-deep.
Doubts, or the clouds on your coffee as Carly Simon once sang, will always hover about Magnolia.
Mine has subsided.
Lucero, Lastimosa and Alfaro have turned me into a believer..
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