The return of Magnolia
MANILA - There is one team to watch out for once the PBA season opens on December 17. The Magnolia brand is returning in the Philippine Basketball Association to be carried by the Hotshots as they seek to end a three-year dry spell.
The team will bear the same players but two rookies will be added in Robert Herndon and Gwyne Capacio hoping to improve their last season's performance where they made the Final Four in each of the three conferences.
It's a solid showing in their first season under coach Chito Victolero.
Marc Pingris, Paul Lee, Mark Barroca, PJ Simon, Jio Jalalon and their teammates, however, are raring to do even better while carrying the banner of the Magnolia Hotshots.
Expectations are high especially with their tradition of winning a championship each time carrying a new brand name.
The franchise won its first title under the banner of Purefoods Hotdogs, then also won championships with the team known as Coney Island, B-MEG and San Mig Coffee.
San Mig Coffee made a great run of four straight championships from the 2013 Governors Cup, allowing the team to catch up with the Crispa Redmanizers as the third winningest teams in the league with similar hauls of 13 crowns.
"It's a challenge for the team because every time we switch names, we always become champions," said team manager Alvin Patrimonio.
"It's an exciting season with a new logo and a new team name," added Patrimonio, whose team is now a championship short of matching Alaska Milk's 14-title harvest.
"It's a new challenge, not just for me but the whole coaching staff and the players. We'll work hard in order to improve," said Victolero.
The Magnolia jersey was first brandished by San Miguel Beer in its return from a leave of absence in the league in the mid-80s. SB/pba.ph