MAGNOLIA isn't about to sulk after becoming Blackwater's lone victim in ending the PBA's longest losing record in history. The Hotshots know too well, it's the playoffs battle that counts the most.
Chito Victolero said the top seeded Hotshots remain focus on the task at hand and were not a bit shaken by their 101-100 upset at the hands of the Bossing to end their elimination round campaign in the Governors' Cup.
Although Magnolia went down as the team Blackwater had beaten to finally put an end to its 29-game skid, the scenario doesn't changes as the team remains the top seeded ballclub going to the quarterfinals by virtue of its league-best 9-2 record.
"I know naman my players, they will be ready for the playoffs," said Victolero. "The most important thing is you know how to bounce back.
Sponsored content:"The game was a learning experience for us, so maganda yun. We need to stay hungry, we need to stay focus and we should have that attitude going to battle, going to war."
The Magnolia mentor isn't about to lose his time pondering on the loss against the Bossing, who Victolero gave credit for deserving the win.
He added the law of averages obviously caught up with the Bossing.
"Darating naman talaga yung mananalo sila, hindi lang nila alam, which is nangyari naman," said Victolero. "And they deserved to win because they worked hard and they played hard.
"Hindi naman natin puwedeng tanggalin sa kanila yun because we also have to respect Blackwater as a team."
Victolero pointed out that even with the loss, Magnolia actually still have a chance to win it in the endgame.
Mark Barroca, who had a career-high 27 points, gave the Hotshots their final taste of the lead at 100-99 with 48 seconds to play on a driving layup to cap the team's comeback from 11 points down in the last five minutes.
After a missed basket by the Bossing, it appeared Magnolia was ready to deny them of the win.
But then Barroca lost the ball off a steal by Paul Desiderio in a blinding sequence, leading to a Barkley Ebona basket that regained the upperhand for Blackwater, 101-100, in the final 10 seconds.
The Hotshots had one final tab at salvaging a win, but the undergoal stab by Jackson Corpuz was foiled by rookie Rey Suerte at the buzzer as the Bossing escaped with the dramatic win.
"We still have a chance to win, pero that's the game," said Victolero. "It's basketball, sometimes you lose, sometimes you win." (RG)(PBA)
(Photo credits to: PBA)