Chito Victolero wants contract renewal for veterans Marc Pingris, Rafi Reavis

Magnolia head coach Chito Victolero wants veterans Marc Pingris and Rafi Reavis to be on board for the Hotshots in the upcoming PBA season.

The contracts of the two big men expired at the end of 2020 and Victolero wants the duo in uniform as the team aims to bounce back after being eliminated early in the playoffs of the PBA bubble season.

The incoming 5th-year mentor bared that management will sit down with Pingris and discuss his future with the team. The 39-year old forward skipped the entire 2020 Philippine Cup due to a nagging calf injury.

“We will try to wait siguro ‘yung kung ano ‘yung resulta ng kanyang rehabilitation. And then we will try to decide with management and Ping and talk kung ano ang plano niya. Hindi pa namin alam ang plano ni Ping (at) kung maayos ‘yung rehab niya,” said Victolero.

Despite seeing very limited action in the past couple of years due to an ACL injury, Victolero believes that Pingris remains a vital cog for the team simply because he brings so many intangibles to the game.

“‘Yung presence niya at kung makakalaro siya, even at 80 to 90 percent, malaking bagay ‘yun,” he said.

With regards to Reavis, Victolero is all-praises for the 43-year old’s effort during the bubble season which saw him contribute 4.0 points and 6.6 rebounds in 27 minutes of action. More importantly, the 6-foot-8 Fil-Am took the cudgels when the team’s other big men came down with injuries.

“When Ian (Sangalang) and Kyle Pascual were injured, siya ‘yung bumuhay sa amin at ang nilalaro niya, 35 to 40 minutes,” said Victolero.

“Sobrang ganda ng kundisyon niya and I’m very proud of Rafi na ang ganda ng ipinakita niya at ‘yung alaga niya sa katawan, sobrang maayos. Malaking bagay ‘yung presence niya at ‘yung leadership niya. He is our captain at malaking bagay ‘yung experience na binibigay niya sa amin. I highly recommend na si Rafi na ma-renew siya dahil malaking tulong siya sa amin,” he added.