MANILA – Despite capturing the 2018 PBA Governors’ Cup championship title, Magnolia Hotshots knew that it is still far from the caliber of its sister teams San Miguel Beermen and Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Kings.
Hotshots guard Andy Mark Barroca said they knew that there are a lot of work to do for them to be in the same level as the Beermen and the Kings, who have dominated the PBA the past few seasons.
“Isang hump pa lang ang nalagpasan namin at nagpapasalamat kami doon,” said Barroca, who was hailed as the Finals MVP for his average of 11.0 points, 3.2 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 1.8 steals.
“Wala pa ito, isa lang ito eh. Ano ba naman yung sa San Miguel, Ginebra, nandyan sila lagi sa taas. Hopefully kami rin, nandoon din kami,” added the former Far Eastern University Tamaraws guard.
Barroca, who has six PBA championships tucked under his belt, is hopeful that Governors’ Cup title will inspire the Hotshots to persevere further in the upcoming conferences.
“So far, rest muna kami. Dapat stay hungry and stay humble pa din kami,” said Barroca. “Sana makabalik kami (sa championship). Palagi kaming nasa Final Four (the past few conferences).”
Magnolia head coach Chito Victolero, however, believe that beginning a championship run for his squad is not that hard to achieve with the players like each other and having the chemistry.
“Kasi para kaming barkada dito. Isa sa pinaka-gusto ko dito sa team na ‘to na nabuo namin, ‘yung core na ‘to, ‘yung chemistry,” Victolero said. “Talagang grabe, halos magkakapatid kami dito.”
“Isa sa pinakamasaya at pinaka-grabeng samahan na nasamahan ko, even noong player pa ako,” he added. “Isa na ‘to siguro sa best na team na nasamahan ko, in terms of chemistry.”
“Lahat ng pinagpaguran namin from last year, na talagang natuto kami from the semifinals, three semifinals last year, and then this year, sa Finals, sa first conference. It boils down to this game. Sana lang magtuloytuloy pa kami,” he said./PN
