Ercito "Chito" Victolero (born November 29, 1975) is a Filipino professional basketball coach and former player. He is the head coach for the Magnolia Hotshots of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA).

Chito Victolero
Victolero in 2023
Magnolia Hotshots
PositionHead coach
LeaguePBA
Personal information
Born (1975-11-29) November 29, 1975 (age 48)
Santa Maria, Bulacan, Philippines
NationalityFilipino
Listed height5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Listed weight153 lb (69 kg)
Career information
CollegeMapúa
PBA draft2002: 2nd round, 13th overall pick
Selected by the Sta. Lucia Realtors
Playing career2002–2005
PositionPoint guard
Coaching career2009–present
Career history
As player:
1995–1996Stag Pale Pilseners
2002–2005Sta. Lucia Realtors
2005FedEx Express
As coach:
2009–2012Mapúa
2014–2016Kia Carnival / Kia Sorento / Mahindra Enforcer (assistant)
2016–presentStar/Magnolia Hotshots
Career highlights and awards
As player:
  • PBL champion (1995–96 Reinforced, 1995–96 All-Filipino, 1995–96 Danny Floro, 1996 Danny Floro)

As head coach:

He played in the PBA for the Sta. Lucia Realtors where he was drafted by the Realtors in the second round of the 2002 PBA draft as the 13th overall pick.

Early years

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Victolero first played high school ball for the Sacred Heart Academy in Bulacan and later became a member of the Region III squad in the PRISAA. From there, he made it to the varsity squad and joined the Mapua Cardinals under coach Joel Banal in 1992, a year after MIT had completed back-to-back title conquests in the senior division of the NCAA.

He played in his first commercial ballclub in 1995 with the Stag Pale Pilsen in the Philippine Basketball League under coach Alfrancis Chua and was a member of the Pilseners that won the historic grandslam in the PBL.

Professional career

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After playing college basketball for Mapúa, Victorelo applied for the 2002 PBA draft where he was drafted thirteenth overall by the Sta. Lucia Realtors.

Before the 2005 Fiesta Conference, Victolero was signed by the FedEx Express where he played for one conference.

Coaching career

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In April 2009, Victolero was hired by his alma mater, Mapúa, to be the head coach of the university's team, the Mapúa Cardinals.[1] However, Victorelo resigned from his post as head coach. According to a source, the Mapúa school administration was on the verge of firing Victolero because of the team's poor performances in the NCAA. The school administration also elected not to renew Victorelo's expiring contract, but Victolero left his post before the school administration could inform him in a scheduled meeting.[2]

Before the 2014–15 PBA season, Victolero was hired by the Kia Sorento to be one of the team's assistant coaches. Kia Head coach Manny Pacquiao credited Victolero as one of the reasons for Kia's inspiring run for the franchise's first season.[3]

Before the 2016–17 PBA season, Victolero was hired by Star Hotshots to be their head coach.

Coaching record

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Collegiate record

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Season Team Elimination round Playoffs
GP W L PCT Finish GP W L PCT Results
2009 MIT 18 6 12 .333 6th Eliminated
2010 MIT 16 9 7 .562 4th 1 0 1 .000 Stepladder round 1
2011 MIT 18 7 11 .389 5th Eliminated
2012 MIT 18 8 10 .444 6th Eliminated
Totals 70 30 40 .428 1 0 1 .000 0 championships

Professional record

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Season Team Eliminations Playoffs
W L PCT Finish PG W L PCT Results
2016–17 Star 23 10 .697 3rd 19 9 10 .474 Semifinals
2017–18 Magnolia 22 11 .667 2nd 24 14 10 .583 Champions
2019 Magnolia 17 16 .515 6th 20 9 11 .450 Finals
2020 Magnolia 7 4 .636 7th 1 0 1 .000 Quaererfinals
2021 Magnolia 17 5 .773 2nd 19 10 9 .526 Finals
2022–23 Magnolia 25 9 .735 2nd 15 6 9 .400 Semifinals
Totals 111 55 .668 98 48 50 .489 1 championship

References

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  1. ^ "Ex-Cardinal Victolero named Mapua coach". Philippine Daily Inquirer. April 4, 2009. Archived from the original on July 17, 2015. Retrieved July 16, 2015.
  2. ^ "Mapua coach Chito Victolero resigns from Cardinals post". InterAksyon.com. November 5, 2012. Archived from the original on July 17, 2015. Retrieved July 16, 2015.
  3. ^ Panaligan, Marisse (June 24, 2015). "Pacquiao credits asst. coach Victolero for Kia's inspiring run". GMA News. Retrieved July 16, 2015.