Photo by Tristan Tamayo/ INQUIRER.net
Star was plagued with severals problems in its three semifinal exits in the 2016-2017 PBA season.
But head coach Chito Victolero knows one of the things they are lacking the most is not something that can be found in the stat sheets.
“I think our chemistry, that’s the area we need to improve on,” said Victolero after the Hotshots bowed out of Governors’ Cup semifinals Thursday at Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Meralco was Star’s latest conqueror, taking the semifinals series in three straight games with the last one decided in overtime, 91-88.
Victolero inherited a Star team in 2016 that failed to enter the playoffs for a whole year after ruling the league for four straight conferences from 2013 to 2014.
“During my first season, chemistry was the first thing I focused on, I think it needs more improvement,” said Victolero in Filipino. “There are a lot of new players and I initiated a new system. I think chemistry and teamwork is what we need to work on because the talent is there.”
Star, one of the most illustrious franchises in the PBA with 13 championships, was a mere shadow of its historic past when it failed to post a winning record during the one-year tenure of Jason Webb at the head coaching seat.
Victolero was then tasked to right the ship and bring the franchise back to its glorious past but the Hotshots have yet to win a championship against.
“There’s the talent, the love and trust we have for each other that’s the thing we should improve on,” said Victolero. “We already have that now, but we need to improve on that. If we want to go to the next level, we have to improve on our chemistry.”