Chito Victolero likes Magnolia's finals chances, but first, focus is on 'tough' semis series vs Meralco

The Magnolia Hotshots last appeared in a PBA Philippine Cup Finals series two years ago, when they forced the San Miguel Beermen to a Game 7 for the title.

They may have missed the crown then but two years later, the Hotshots are now three wins away from another All-Filipino Finals appearance. With an intact team and some additions, head coach Chito Victolero said he is more confident of his chances now.

"Gusto ko 'yung chances namin ngayon. We have the core, since 2018 we won a championship, mga ilan lang 'yung nawala. We have rookies, Aris Dionisio, now we have Calvin [Abueva], so I think [kaya] naman. We have a big picture pero malayo pa yun eh," Victolero said in a post-game conference on Sunday.

(I like our chances now. We have the core, since 2018 we won a championship, only a few left the team. We have rookies, Aris Dionisio, now we have Calvin, so I think we can. We have a big picture but it's still far from over.)

From the 2018 team that won a Governor's Cup trophy, at least eight players are still with the Hotshots.

They may have additional players like Calvin Abueva who was crucial in Game 1 of their best-of-seven series against the Meralco Bolts, but Victolero said they would rather finish the series first before thinking of the Philippine Cup Finals.

"We just try to focus muna on the series, sa semis. We'll think about that 'big picture' after the series, kung papalarin kami," he said. "It's a tough series and kailangan lang namin maglaro one game at a time, one preparation at a time."

(We just try to focus on the semis series first. We'll think about that 'big picture' after the series, if we get lucky. It's a tough series and we need to play one game at a time, one preparation at a time.)

"We don't think about the finals yet, we just think about Meralco first."

Magnolia and Meralco are expected to face again this week for Game 2 of their series.

—JMB, GMA News