By Michael Angelo S. Murillo
THE MAGNOLIA Hotshots Pambansang Manok are once again back on the summit of the Philippine Basketball Association after clinching their 14th league title by completing the defeat of the Alaska Aces in their best-of-seven Governors’ Cup finals series, 4-2.
Channeling the unstoppable in Game Six of the series on Wednesday at the Ynares Center in Antipolo City, the Hotshots sped to a 102-86 victory to be crowned champions anew after a wait that lasted for four years.
Having waited long and endured several “pains” along the way, the Hotshots said their latest conquest has a certain specialness to it all, underscoring as well that it is a result of things coming together for them.
“This feeling [of a champion] is really new to me personally. I’m just proud of what the team has accomplished. All our sacrifices really paid off,” a jubilant Magnolia coach Chito Victolero said during the postgame press conference following their Game Six triumph.
“We really worked hard for this. We got the players we wanted and worked from there. It came together for us finally but it surely was not done overnight,” added Mr. Victolero, whose name is now part of the list of PBA champion coaches with his debut title.
The last time that Magnolia won a title prior to this latest was in the 2014 Governors’ Cup, completing what was a grand slam under the name of San Mig Coffee which was coached by Tim Cone.
After that “dark times” befell the franchise as it failed to advance to the finals in the next nine conferences.
It made it to the finals of the recent Philippine Cup but bowed to the San Miguel Beermen in their best-of-seven championship series, 4-1 .
The Hotshots continued to work hard after that though, fine-tuning their collective game and bringing in pieces that could help complete their championship goals.
Mr. Victolero said Game Six was a testament to how the players were reared by their experiences in the last couple of years.
“We really prepared hard during the break. I saw in the players that they really wanted this game and the championship. They were focused on what needed to be done. And in the first two minutes of the game (Game Six) it really showed. We had a good start and sustained it all the way to the end,” said Mr. Victolero, referring to the five-day break that the PBA had in between Games Five and Six to give way to the annual rookie draft.
In Game Six, Magnolia started hot, outscoring Alaska, 12-0, and never looked back after that despite repeated attempts by the Aces to catch up and extend the series to a do-or-die.
Romeo Travis led Magnolia in the clincher with 32 points, 17 rebounds and six assists.
Paul Lee and Ian Sangalang each had 16 points while Mark Barroca, who was adjudged Finals MVP, added 13 markers.
Jio Jalalon was the other Magnolia player in double digits in scoring with 11 points.
“We are just thankful for all the blessings. Credit to the whole team for working hard to get this championship,” Mr. Victolero said.