Payback for finals loss one of Magnolia's motivations in win vs TNT, says Victolero

Magnolia Hotshots head coach Chito Victolero admitted that last conference's finals heartbreak against TNT served as motivation when the two clubs collided anew in the PBA Governors' Cup restart on Friday.

The Hotshots got some measure of revenge as they pulled away in the endgame to rise with a 96-93 victory over the Tropang Giga and kept their unblemished record intact. TNT, meanwhile, dropped to 2-3.

"Of course, in reality, it was one of our motivations because they beat us in the finals," Victolero said in the post-game press conference.

"I told them (players) to use them as one of their motivations but we still got to win this game."

During the 2021 Philippine Cup Finals showdown, Magnolia was only able to win one game in their best-of-seven series against TNT. And marching into the import-laced conference, Magnolia made sure to start strong.

The Hotshots are currently unbeaten in the Governors' Cup, defeating Terrafirma, Rain or Shine, Barangay Ginebra San Miguel, and TNT for a clean 4-0 slate.

"I told them at the start of the game that we cannot expect to immediately get the results but we need to prepare possession by possession," added the tactician. "Good thing [was the] players stepped up and they committed to our executions and our defense."

Magnolia returns to action on Wednesday against NLEX, which is eager to bounce back after also suffering a loss on Friday against Meralco.

—JMB, GMA News