Even without combo guard Paul Lee, Magnolia intends to start strong in its 2018 PBA Governors' Cup campaign as it tries to put a quick end to NLEX's two-game winning streak on Wednesday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The Pambansang Manok will miss the services of the six-foot Lee, who is currently on loan to the Gilas squad playing in the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta, Indonesia.
Victolero said they have adjusted well without the Magnolia star guard, focusing on improving team chemistry with returning PBA import Romeo Travis.
PBA fans remember the left-handed Travis, who was named Best Import in the 2015 Governors' Cup after helping the Alaska Aces to a runner-up finish against the San Miguel Beermen.
"So far, the team's been doing well, just working on our team chemistry with Romeo," Victolero said.
"But the advantage here is that Romeo already knows how to play in the PBA. He's familiar with the physicality and has won Best Import already so he's a veteran," he added.
The Pambansang Manok will be tangling with the Road Warriors, who opened the conference with a shocking 103-90 win over the TNT Katropa followed by a 123-107 spanking of NorthPort last Sunday.
Nigerian-Canadian import Olu Ashaolu is expected to suit up for NLEX despite playing with a ruptured patellar tendon on his right knee, which he sustained in a tuneup game before the start of the third conference.
The hulking Ashaolu has been playing on practically one healthy knee, but surprisingly led the Road Warriors with impressive averages of 30.0 points, 18.0 rebounds and 3.0 assists in their 2-0 start.
NLEX's acting coach Jojo Lastimosa disclosed that they've already brought back last season's reinforcement Aaron Fuller as a substitute import while Ashaolu is set to undergo rehab on his knee.
"The deal is if Olu can rehab while Aaron is here and even get back and be healthy, then we got a good situation going," said Lastimosa, who has been calling the shots while coach Yeng Guiao is in Jakarta handling the national team for the Asiad.
"And Aaron was kind of OK with that contract that if Olu comes in and he's healthy, he's stepping in and Aaron will sit down," he added.