Photo by Tristan Tamayo/ INQUIRER.net
A neophyte to the All-Star festivities, coach Chito Victolero is excited to be calling the shots for the Mindanao PBA All-Stars o Wednesday at Xavier University Gym in Cagayan de Oro.
“I’m very happy because this will be my first time. I never experienced this when I was a player and I share my excitement together with my players,” he said.
But the Star coach is going to have his hands full as he is set to mentor a Mindanao squad which will rely heavily on its backcourt.
“We might have a security agency,” he joked. “Even my starters are all guards.”
Surprise top vote-getter Mark Barroca will command the Mindanaoan selection, together with teammates Peter June Simon and Rafi Reavis. Ginebra sophomore Scottie Thompson and Phoenix veteran Cyrus Baguio complete the first five.
Victolero will also have Star rookie Jio Jalalon, NLEX scorer Carlo Lastimosa, Meralco playmaker Baser Amer, and new TNT guard RR Garcia in his roster.
Backstopping the squad in the paint will be Sonny Thoss, Troy Rosario, Mo Tautuaa, and Glenn Khobuntin.
Despite the evident lack of frontcourt layers for the Mindanao PBA All-Stars, Victolero is looking to make the most of his lineup given the caliber of talent of his players.
“We’ll see how we’ll utilize and maximize the talent of our team. I just hope that we blend in well with our chemistry,” he said.
Victolero is also hopeful that this team will give Gilas Pilipinas the workout it badly needs in preparation for the 2017 Seaba Championship.
“We’ll enjoy our stint and we have to give Gilas a good fight so we could help them too,” he said.