Hotshots primed for PBA championship run

MANILA, Philippines -- With an intact core and with an impressive preseason in the books, the Magnolia Hotshots are eyeing to get back to the finals and possibly win the championship in the upcoming PBA Commissioner’s Cup.

Bolstered by Paul Lee, Jio Jalalon, Ian Sangalang, Mark Barroca, Calvin Abueva and Jerrick Ahanmisi, the team is raring to go deep in the playoffs this upcoming PBA season.

The team also swept the whole PBA on Tour, winning all of their 11 games.

“We want to feel again, experience the finals again. And, we have the same mission. The goal is to win the championship,” Magnolia head coach Chito Victolero told reporters during the PBA Media Day last Wednesday.

The Hotshots' last championship was back in 2018 PBA Governors' Cup, when they defeated the then-Alaska Aces in six games.

The last time they were in the finals was in 2021, when they fell to the TNT Tropang Giga for the Philippine Cup title.

Despite this goal, Victolero underscored that the team needs to take it one step at a time.

“We start in the first step. We don’t want to rush it. We want to give emphasis on the training, the preparations,” the coach said.

The mentor also raved about their new additions to the team -- forwards Abu Tratter, David Murrell and Joseph Eriobu.

“Hopefully, our goal is met with the addition of the new guys, Abu, Joseph and David. And with the help of our import [Tyler Bey,] the improvement of the other players and other role players, [the championship] is the goal,” he said.

“That is the task of the team, to go into the playoffs, deep into the playoffs and go back to the finals.”

Magnolia will kick off the PBA Commissioner’s Cup on November 5, Sunday, against the TNT Tropang Giga at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.