MANILA, Philippines – Ever since Chito Victolero took over as head coach of the former Purefoods team in 2017, the Magnolia Templados Hotshots have been a reliable postseason contender.

However, in all the years he managed the club, Victolero was only able to award the Hotshots one championship, which came in the 2018 season’s Governors’ Cup, when they were defeated four times in the championship round.

Victolero and his team have another chance to contend for the crown with this new season.

When talking about his team’s goals, Victolero stressed that winning the title is still their major goal for each conference. He was open about the team’s near misses, saying they frequently failed to close the gap in key situations or mustered no last-minute surge to win. Victolero praised their efforts in the previous season, pointing out their noteworthy accomplishments of making it to the finals in one conference and the quarterfinals in another, despite these losses. He proposed that these successes show the team’s potential and competitiveness. Victolero did, however, clarify that although these were positive outcomes, the ultimate objective is still unattainable.

He conveyed a strong will to keep pushing, not only to make deep playoff runs but to go “all the way” and win the coveted championship. His words show a mixture of satisfaction with his most recent achievements and a desire for even greater success down the road.

As the son of one of the greatest big-league forwards in history, Glen Robinson, Robinson is a former NBA slam dunk champion. When the Hotshots resume play in the 49th season, a lot is expected of the second-generation player.

With Glen joining the squad, Victolero voiced confidence about the group’s future and expressed hope that Glen’s expertise would help lead the group back to the championship. He restated that their main goal for every conference has always been to get to the championship series.

Victolero elaborated on their methodology, saying that the group has taken a thorough approach to improvement. They assessed every position on the club where they believed improvements were required, rather than just adding a new star player to bolster their lineup. According to Victolero, this all-encompassing approach to team development shows their dedication to resolving any perceived shortcomings and fortifying the group in every way.

The coach’s remarks imply a deliberate and exhaustive evaluation of the team’s requirements, demonstrating that they have taken the initiative to increase their chances of success. Victolero suggested that they believe in assembling a well-rounded and balanced team that is capable of competing at the greatest level by highlighting their attention on various components of the team makeup.

His reference to Glen’s expertise emphasizes how much the club values playoff-tested players and seasoned leadership, seeing these additions as possible game-changers that may help them accomplish their ultimate objective of not just making it to the finals but also winning a title.

In addition to Robinson, Zav Lucero, the new sophomore big man the Hotshots acquired from NorthPort in exchange for Jio Jalalon and Abu Tratter, is also anticipated to have an influence on the club.

Significant curiosity has been aroused by the Hotshots’ recent roster changes, especially with the addition of Zav Lucero. Acquired in a trade with NorthPort, this talented sophomore big man is anticipated to have a significant effect on the team’s output.

The Hotshots’ intentional roster reconfiguration is highlighted by the deal that saw them part ways with Abu Tratter and Jio Jalalon. Although Lucero is still in the early stages of his professional career, the Hotshots think that his youthful energy and promise will strengthen their core.

Lucero is a large player, thus the club probably added him to strengthen their frontcourt. His expected impact may be seen in a number of areas of the game, such as rebounding, interior defense, and paint scoring. It’s clear that the Hotshots’ management views Lucero as a player who can fill in certain gaps on their roster.