MANILA – Recently-crowned PBA Governors’ Cup titlist Magnolia Hotshots is beginning to feel the sense of urgency after dropping their first two matches in the 2019 Honda PBA Philippine Cup.
Hotshots head coach Chito Victolero said he is egging on his wards to regain their fighting form that brought them to PBA coronation late last year before it becomes too late.
The Hotshots suffered back-to-back setbacks early in the conference against TNT KaTropa (75-80) and defending champions San Miguel Beermen (92-113). They will be back to the hard court tonight against the league-leading Rain or Shine Elasto Painters.
“Right now, we have to have that sense of urgency. Kailangan na naming mag-start maglaro ng laro namin. Kasi mahirap malubog,” said Victolero. “We are still far from the form we would want to be. Wala pa talaga kami sa rhythm at sa timing.”
Victolero hopes the Hotshots would get their winning form back sooner than later but that’s easier said than done as they could face consecutive matches when the league returns from FIBA break in late February.
“After Wednesday’s game, papahinga nanaman kami, and it’s hard. And then, pagbalik namin, in eighteen days we have seven games and that’s very hard,” Victolero rued.
He added: “Sobrang hirap ng schedule naming. Kailangan siguro, mag-start na kaming ibalik ulit ‘yung timing tsaka ‘yung rhythm namin. Kasi ‘yun ‘yung kulang e. Hindi kami makabwelo ng dire–diretso.”/PN
