CAN’T win them all.
Magnolia’s 93-91 loss to Converge in the PBA Commissoner’s Cup somewhat spoiled what had been a joyful Sunday for coach Chito Victolero.
Delighted by his alma mater Mapua’s Game 1 win over College of St. Benilde in the NCAA Season 100 men’s basketball finals, the 49-year-old coach's day ended on a sour note as the Hotshots lost a huge 20-point lead and fell to the FiberXers.
READ Red-hot Escamis shoots Mapua over Benilde in Game One
Victolero has been an avid supporter of the Cardinals and coach Randy Alcantara as he is fixture in Mapua’s games in the NCAA’s centennial season.
He failed to watch the finals opener since the game was played three hours before Magnolia’s outing against Converge.
READ Big Stockton plays complete Converge fightback vs Magnolia
“Hindi muna ako manonood. May game kami, e,” said Victolero when asked on Thursday if he intends to take a peek first at the Smart Araneta Coliseum for the NCAA finals before proceeding to the Ynares Center in Antipolo for the Magnolia game.
But deputy coach Tony Boy Espinosa travelled straight to Antipolo from the Big Dome in time for the match against Converge.
“Habol ako sa game,” said the former point guard from La Salle who is also part of the Mapua coaching staff.
Espinosa hurriedly left the venue shortly after the Cardinals’ 84-73 victory, quietly leaving just as the Mapua school anthem was still being played.
On the other hand, the Converge win somehow soothed the pain of losing the series opener for Blazers’ coach Charles Tiu.
The 35-year-old mentor no longer joined the FiberXers – where he serves as lead assistant – following the Blazers’ Game 1 setback.
“Baka hindi na,” said Tiu about going up to Antipolo.
He later posted on X (formely tweeter) about not being able to be at the Converge game: ‘Won’t be able to make it to Ynares too, for our Converge game. Hope they can win vs Magnolia.’
But St. Benilde team consultant Rajko Toroman still proceeded and watched as the FiberXers completed their huge fightback.
Converge improved to a 2-1 record, while dealing Magnolia its first loss in two outings.
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