Magnolia has been a perennial playoff team, but it can't seem to go all the way.
The Magnolia Hotshots not only finished the PBA On Tour with an unblemished 11-0 slate, but they also won 9 of their 11 games by double digits—the last one a 106-92 drubbing of the Terrafirma Dyip on Wednesday.
The Hotshots, put simply, steamrolled the competition this preseason, taking to heart coach Chito Victolero’s earlier request that they play with the proper mindset even if the games have no actual bearing so they can work better on their chemistry.
Several impressive wins later and it looks like Victolero’s pleadings have been heard.
"Maganda ‘yung chemistry, maganda ‘yung tinatakbo. Everybody's enjoying and everybody's having fun," said Victolero in an article on the PBA website.
The PBA On Tour, of course, was meant to help teams prepare for next season, which is set to unfurl in October starting with the import-laced Commissioner’s Cup. And if Magnolia’s dominant preseason is any indication, it might just be one of the early title favorites for the entirety of Season 48.
"Masaya kaming lahat dahil nagawa namin ‘yung goal namin this preseason," Victolero added. "Dadalhin namin lahat ‘yan in the regular season."
Victolero, who led Magnolia to the 2018 PBA Governors’ Cup title, is not about to get too confident, pointing out how the actual season figures to be a very different ball game.
"Alam din naman ng mga bata na kung ano ‘yung na-achieve namin ngayon is not enough when we go to the real battle at the start of the season,” Victolero further said. “Alam nila marami pa kaming ta-trabahuhin. So, we have to keep on working and keep on improving."
That much is true. But, at least, the Hotshots appear to have something real good to build on moving forward.