MAGNOLIA is headed to the postseason as the first team to clinch a berth in the quarterfinals of the 2023-24 PBA Commissioner’s Cup.
The Hotshots did so after pulling off their seventh win in as many games, 94-90, at the expense of San Miguel on Sunday.
Magnolia has been so good this conference that, according to a research by PBA statistics chief Fidel Mangonon, it has matched the best start in franchise history pulled off by the then-Purefoods TJ Giants in the 2008 Philippine Cup.
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But history also shows that doesn’t necessarily result in a championship. During that Philippine Cup 15 years ago, the TJ Giants still lost to Sta. Lucia in Game Seven of the finals.
The last time a team started the conference 7-0 was TNT during the 2019 Governors’ Cup with the Tropang Giga coached by Bong Ravena and active consultant Mark Dickel. But the team didn’t even reach the finals, losing to Meralco in the fifth and final game of the semifinal series.
Magnolia coach Chito Victolero is well-aware that the perfect start is nothing without a trophy to lift at the end of the campaign, as he played down the recent achievement of the Hotshots to book a quarterfinal ticket.
“We will not stop here. This is only the beginning. We know na malayo pa,” said Victolero. “Nagpapasalamat kami na we have the blessing na nasa quarters na kami. But the ultimate goal is go to all the way. But, malayo pa.”
The fiery start, Victolero said, was a result of the early build-up that saw the Hotshots top the PBA on Tour exhibition series with an 11-0 record.
“It started in the preseason seven, eight months ago where we were practicing and they are all committed na mag-improve ‘yung lahat sa amin. Hindi lang isa, dalawa but the whole team,” said Victolero.
Victolero said the offseason work has developed a very deep rotation where the second and third group can deliver big games at any time.
Super subs deliver
Such was the case in the San Miguel victory where back-up center James Laput played critical minutes and finishing with 14 points and seven rebounds. Second-stringer Aris Dionisio hit 10 points made some key plays in the end game.
Even third-string guard Jed Mendoza saw action in the final moments of the game, giving Magnolia an extra ball-handler.
Victolero said strengthening the bench was also a priority during the build-up, having learned from past playoff runs that were derailed due to injuries to their star players.
“Actually, Aris Dionisio was a factor when Paul Lee got injured. Aris Dionisio stepped up big,” said Victolero of the San Miguel game.
“‘Yun naman ang goal namin this preseason. I don’t want to make an excuse but that was our problem in the playoffs. When Ian Sangalang got injured, Paul Lee or even [Mark] Barroca or [JIo] Jalalon or Calvin Abueva got injured, parang nahihirapan talaga kami.”
“Now, we have a deep rotation. We trust each other. We trust our bench. Nagde-deliver sila like Aris. He delivered one basket nung fourth quarter and four free throws. Malaking bagay ‘yung kumpiyansang binibigay namin sa kanila,” said Victolero.
Magnolia still has to take care of business in the final stretch of the elimination round as it goes for one of the four twice-to-beat incentives in the quarterfinals. The Hotshots face bottom tems Rain or Shine on Saturday, Terrafirma on December 20, and Converge on December 23, before ending the conference with a match-up against Meralco on January 6.
For Victolero, the team will make sure that there won’t be any letdown.
“We want that respect with our opponent. ‘Yun ang lagi naming binibigay that’s why we are playing good right now because we give respect for our opponent every time we face them kahit sino pa ‘yun,” said Victolero.
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