Magnolia coach Chito Victolero stressed that adding another high-IQ guard in Chris Banchero to his sentinel-laden crew is not the Hotshots’ way of pushing the panic button in arresting an inconsistent performance in the eliminations of the PBA Governors’ Cup.
It also is not a sure-fire way for his Hotshots to retain the championship.
“Actually, it was an offer that cropped up—one that I didn’t want to pass up on,” Victolero told a few reporters after the team’s practice Monday afternoon at Ronac Art Center in Ortigas.
Magnolia is currently at sixth spot and would need to string up wins in order to make the top four and earn a twice-to-beat edge in the first round of the playoffs.
“It wasn’t truly a need,” Victolero explained. “We felt he (Banchero) could be of big help to us. It was just an opportunity I feel I’d regret if I didn’t take.”
“He wanted some of my players whom I am have not been able to maximize,” Victolero, referring to Alaska coach Jeffrey Cariaso, who wanted Robbie Herndon and Rodney Brondial.
Victolero said having so many talented backcourt men is a problem he has no qualms having.
Banchero was hands-down, the best guard at Alaska for the better part of the last two seasons, and his arrival at Magnolia just hiked the Hotshots’ guard tally.
Victolero already has Jio Jalalon, Marc Barroca and Paul Lee and it won’t be a surprise if Banchero gets to play the off-guard spot more often.
“It’s a good problem for us that we have another guard who plays multiple positions,” Victolero said.