Chito Victolero spoke on his departure from the Magnolia Hotshots after nearly a decade at the sidelines. He was replaced by LA Tenorio.
Chito Victolero had nothing but love for the team he called home for almost a decade and its new head coach.
Breaking his silence for the first time since getting the pink slip from the Magnolia Hotshots, Victolero said he saw that decision coming.
“Nagulat na parang hindi nagulat. But every year naman ine-expect ko naman na 'pag nagkaron ng changes, I’m ready,” said Victolero on One PH's Power and Play with Kom Noli Eala on Saturday, August 30.
[RELATED STORY: Official: LA Tenorio takes over as Magnolia Hotshots head coach from Chito Victolero]
Victolero was replaced by LA Tenorio a few weeks ago.
Asked what he thought prompted the management to pull the plug on the nine-year partnership that saw the team win a championship and consistently reach the playoffs, Victolero could only surmise.
Missing the semifinals in the PBA Season 49 Philippine Cup could have been the last straw, according to the one-time PBA Press Corps Coach of the Year. The Hotshots squandered a twice-to-beat advantage against eventual finalist TNT in the quarterfinals.
“I think Comm (Noli Eala), may factor 'yung performance ng team. Hindi kami nakapasok ng semis and Finals compared to the last year na nasa Finals kami with Tyler Bey and then nag semis din,” he said.
The Hotshots even earned a nickname for their strong preliminaries start, only to squander it in the playoffs—introboys.
[ALSO READ: The PBA Finals are the time for the Magnolia Hotshots to beat "introboys" allegations]
Let's look back.
Magnolia last won a PBA title in the 2018 Governors' Cup, when Victolero's Hotshots took down Alex Compton's Alaska Aces in six games.
They reached the finals three more times, but never lifted the trophy. In the past four conferences, Magnolia did not make it past the quarterfinals.
“So this year medyo 'yung performance nung team, 'di talaga ganun (kaganda), but of course laging andun. I think for 22 conferences, hindi naman kami na-out sa playoffs, but of course they expect na higher pa dun.”
[ALSO READ: LA Tenorio as PBA playing-coach for Magnolia Hotshots? Chua, Brownlee weigh in]
It’s one thing he completely understands, given the expectations from the fans and top brass to deliver results each conference.
“Ganun talaga. May high and low sa coaching. May panahon na andun kami lagi, 'di kami nawawala, semis, Finals, then championship, then semis again, Finals,” he said.
“But this year malaking factor din 'yung may mga injuries. Pero lagi ko naman sinasabi sa team ko na 'no excuses, whatever nandyan ilalaban natin. Kung ano mang meron tayo ilalaban natin. It all boils down to one execution, one rebound, or one basket.'”
But this is all in the past now.
For now, Victolero takes advantage of the luxury of time he can spend with his family — something he couldn’t afford in nearly the last decade because of his busy schedule with the Hotshots.
“Medyo maganda rin nakapag pahinga ng kaunti, nakapag-focus sa family ko. Kahit papano natutukan ko mga anak ko, especially mga anak ko na naglalaro na ngayon, he’s playing for Mapua Red Robins,” he said with a smile.
“Nasusundo ko na bunso ko, nahahatid ko na sa school. Of course, 'yung time rin with my wife, (yung mabakasyon with her), hindi ko to nagagawa dati.”