THE last time Magnolia went undefeated after two games was in the 2024 PBA Commissioner’s Cup when Tyler Bey led the Hotshots to a finals appearance against San Miguel.
Fast forward into the 2024-25 Philippine Cup where the Hotshots are currently in that situation, and head coach Chito Victolero is definitely hoping that it would happen again.
Still, it’s still too early to tell.
READ: Sangalang a headache for Pineda, Converge as Magnolia posts win No. 2
“Parang maaga pa,” said Victolero. “But that’s a good sign. Hopefully, we can do that again. But we will just try to take it one game at a time.”
Incidentally, Magnolia’s next game will be against San Miguel, the eventual champion of that aforementioned Commissioner’s Cup. And like the Hotshots, the Beermen are looking for redemption after missing the playoffs last conference where they were the defending titlist.
“Malaking game na naman ito para sa amin. We’re not thinking about it (undefeated). Ito muna. One game at a time muna,” said Victolero.
The Magnolia-San Miguel clash will actually be for solo lead with the Beermen also holding a 2-0 win-loss record entering the match at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum.
The Hotshots are coming off an 83-71 win over Converge last Wednesday to pick up their second win as they go into a test against the Beermen.
Victolero attributes the good start to their longer preparation after their exit in the quarterfinals of the Commissioner’s Cup against NorthPort.
“That’s the four weeks of preparation. Credit to all the players because they embrace ‘yung ginagawa namin. Kung ano man ‘yung system namin ngayon, inimprove namin ng konti at build lang namin ‘yung strength ng defense namin,” Victolero said.
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph
NOTICE ON UNAUTHORIZED AND UNLAWFUL USE, PUBLICATION, AND/OR DISSEMINATION OF SPIN.PH CONTENT: Please be notified that any unauthorized and unlawful use, publication, and/or dissemination of Spin.ph’s content and/or materials is a direct violation of its legal and exclusive rights to the same, and shall be subject to appropriate legal action/s.
