Photo by Tristan Tamayo/ INQUIRER.net
Star head coach Chito Victolero remained positive even as the Hotshots lost their ticket to the PBA after three straight losses to the San Miguel Beermen.
Victolero said they first have to experience setbacks, such as their semifinals loss to the Beermen, if they ever want to reach the next level.
This is the second straight conference that the Hotshots had lost in the semifinals, and Victolero knows they have to learn their lessons come the Governors’ Cup.
READ: Victolero, Star still positive despite another frustrating loss
“I think we need to get through these kinds of situations before we get to where we want to be,” said Victolero after the Hotshots lost 109-102 in Game 4 against the Beermen at Mall of Asia Arena. “We have to experience this as a group.”
Victolero’s first stint with Star was in the 2016-2017 Philippine Cup where he led the Hotshots to a 7-4 record before losing to eventual runners-up Ginebra in seven games in the semifinals.
And though there are proper excuses for Star’s fall in the playoffs, Victolero refuses to use those to mask the fact that they failed to qualify for the title round.
READ: Victolero: Star needs to ‘refocus, stay together’
Power forward Marc Pingris never played a single game in the Commissioner’s Cup and that took a massive chunk from Victolero’s frontcourt rotation.
“I think there are excuses, like Ping isn’t with us but we can’t use that excuse anymore,” said Victolero. “We have to be ready whether we have another injured player in the future, we have to learn from this experience.”