The Magnolia Hotshots need Jerom Lastimosa to step up if it wants to make a deep playoff run in the PBA Season 49 Philippine Cup.
Magnolia coach Chito Victolero emphasized health as one of his wards' main concerns as they take a quick break before their preparation for the PBA Season 49 Philippine Cup gets going.
Injuries hampered the Hotshots' progress this season, most notably in the Commissioner’s Cup where import Ricardo Ratliffe’s hurt shoulder contributed to their slow start.
While Magnolia managed to catch the last bus to the playoffs, it ultimately fell short against top-seeded and in-form NorthPort in the quarterfinals.
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“We have to take care of ourselves as much as possible, limit the injuries, minimize the injuries because it hurts us. It hurt us this conference: the injury to our import, our local players,” Victolero said.
The one-time PBA champion coach then went on to underscore the importance of young gun Jerom Lastimosa in the all-Filipino campaign where the Hotshots are bent on bouncing back.
If this conference is any indication, it looks like Lastimosa has a bright future ahead of him.
But he needs to be consistent, according to Victolero, since he will be backstopping the 38-year-old Mark Barroca.
Much is expected from Magnolia Hotshots rookie Jerom Lastimosa come the PBA Season 49 Philippine Cup. | Photo (c) RM Chua/One Sports
“We need him to play consistent basketball. We're giving him a little bit of room because he's a rookie. But again, we need him badly, especially in the All-Filipino,” he said of the pint-sized guard from Adamson.
“Mark (Barroca) cannot afford to play 30-plus minutes. Hopefully, Jerome can step up, especially 'yung kaniyang mindset, 'yung kaniyang aggressiveness.”
For now, Magnolia will take a much-needed vacation for a couple of weeks before plunging into practice for the season-ending conference.