CHITO Victolero knows the value of saving for the future. Aside from being the Magnolia coach, he also owns a sportswear business for several years dating back to his playing career.
Saving money was exactly what Victolero advised when he recently spoke at an online Zoom session that discusses financial planning.
“Ang malaking advice ko sa kanila, ang importante is you stay on the present. Make sure you stay on the present. Ano ba ang importante ngayon. But don’t forget the future. Wag mo kakalimutan what’s ahead of you. Ano ba ang nandoon sa dulo,” said Victolero during Financial Fitness Workout of basketball coach Edster Sy.
The Magnolia coach is a perfect example of a former player who despite having a short career in the professional ranks were able to become financially stable after retirement through his Chlomars Sportswear business and his savings throughout the years.
After suiting up in the Metropolitan Basketball Association, Victolero was drafted by Sta. Lucia in 2002. But at this point of his life, Victolero was already planning for the future.
“Nung nag-start ‘yung drafting nung 2002, may mga negosyo na rin ako noon bago pumasok sa PBA. Pero ‘yung major business ko na tinayo pagpasok ko ng PBA is nakakuha ako ng magandang puhunan kaya doon ko tinayo ‘yung aking sporting goods. Ang maganda doon, nasa line of work ko which is sa sports,” said Victolero.
Victolero went on to have a brief career in the PBA, ending in 2005 with a stint with FedEx after three years with Sta. Lucia. He admitted having difficulties deciding to retire but was fortunate to be financially stable even with the looming possibility of losing his playing career due to injuries.
“Nung nasa PBA pa ako, hindi pa ako ready mag-retire. Ayoko pa kasi feeling ko kaya ko pa. Ang problema is hindi na kaya ng katawan mo. Kaya ng isip mo pero ‘yung katawan mo, ayaw sumabay. Even ayaw mo magretire, mafoforce retirement ka kasi wala na rin kukuha sa'yo. Kaya you have to be ready and you have to make sure that you have some plans especially kapag mag-start na kayo mag-pro, kailangan may plano kayo,” Victolero told his audience during the talk.
“’Yung professional career ko, parang almost nine years lang. Nagka-injury kasi ako which is ‘yun dapat matutunan ng mga athletes ngayon especially ‘yung mga batang athletes natin na they feel good na bata sila, pero kailangan nila isipin ‘yung future nila habang bata sila kasi they don’t know what will happen. Ang unang kalaban ng athlete is injury. Once na magka-injury ka at you are not ready, doon ka mape-pressure. Iba ang pressure ng buhay at iba ang pressure ng naglalaro ka,” said Victolero.
In his life after playing, Victolero was able to manage his business full-time as well as gaining opportunities to become a coach. He was hired as head coach of the Mapua Cardinals in the NCAA in 2009 and was an assistant of Kia. Victolero gained a PBA coaching job with the Purefoods franchise in 2016.
Even as a coach, Victolero continues to save for his family’s future knowing that coaching, like playing, isn’t a job that will last forever. He now has a resort in Bulacan that was supposed to open this year if not for the pandemic.
“Ito ang future na tinitignan ko. Ang coaching, hindi naman panghabang buhay ‘yan. Iisipin pa rin natin kung paano tayo magreretire, ano ba ang meron tayo after retirement, kaya na ba natin magpa-aral kahit walang trabaho. Being a player and being a coach ay hindi panghabang buhay. Kung okay ang performance natin, okay tayo. Kung hindi, meron ding katapusan ‘yun,” said Victolero.
In closing, Victolero urged his audience to set goals for the future while they are still on top of their careers.
“Habang kaya niyo, habang meron kayong gustong gawin, don’t stop dreaming. Kailangan meron kang gustong puntahan. ‘Yun ngang boss namin, si boss RSA (Ramon S. Ang), ganun na. Marami pa siyang gustong gawin at itulong sa Pilipinas. Sobrang laki na ng naitulong niya pero gusto pa rin niyang makatulong,” said Victolero.
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