In Philippine basketball, the Magnolia Chicken Timplados Hot Shots is one of the most popular teams in the country. 

This Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) powerhouse has made its place in the country’s sports scene with its rich past, group of great players, and constantly changing story. 

We’re going to delve into their history, some players, the coach, and the latest news surrounding the team.

History of the Team

San Miguel Food and Beverage Inc., a San Miguel Corporation (SMC) division, owns the Magnolia Chicken Timplados Hot Shots. As mentioned, this professional basketball club plays in the PBA. With 14 PBA titles, the team is tied for third-most all-time with the Alaska Aces. They also have 32 Finals appearances.

The franchise operates under several of the company’s brands, but Purefoods, its original name, is the most well-known. Among others, Marc Pingris, James Yap, and Alvin Patrimonio are the most strongly associated players with the team.

Purefoods played in the Philippine Amateur Basketball League (PABL, subsequently renamed the Philippine Basketball League) before joining the PBA in 1988. During that time, the team was among the best in the amateur league. 

The San Miguel Pure Foods Company, Inc. said on November 27, 2017, that the team’s name for the 2017–18 PBA season will be the Magnolia Hotshots. The team became known as the Magnolia Pambansang Manok Hotshots in 2021 and they’re now the Magnolia Chicken Timplados Hotshots.

The Magnolia Chicken Timplados Hot Shots has achieved the following significant milestones:

• 1990: Third Conference championship.
• 1991: All-Filipino Conference championship.
• 1993: All-Filipino Conference championship. 
• 1994: Commissioner’s Cup victory.
• 1997: All-Filipino Cup
• 2002: Governor’s Cup
• 2006: Philippine Cup
• 2009-10: Philippine Cup
• 2012: Commissioner’s Cup
• 2013: Governor’s Cup
• 2013-14: Philippine Cup
• 2014: Commissioner’s Cup, Governor’s Cup
• 2018: Governors’ Cup

Current Players

Calvin Abueva

Calvin Abueva is a professional basketball player from the Philippines who plays for the Magnolia Hotshots of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA). He is a power forward or small forward born in Angeles City, Philippines, on February 4, 1988. The Alaska Aces selected Abueva with the second overall pick in the 2012 PBA Draft. 

His flexibility and all-around danger at both ends of the floor are well-recognized. Throughout his career, Abueva has received several honors, including PBA champion and 2× PBA Best Player of the Conference.

Although known as one of the more talented players in league history, several disciplinary issues have followed Abueva throughout the years.

Rome dela Rosa

Rome dela Rosa plays professional basketball for the Magnolia Hotshots of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA). He is an American-Filipino. He plays the role of a small forward. 

Dela Rosa was born in San Diego, California, on December 11, 1990. He was a key player in San Beda College’s four consecutive NCAA championships as a basketball player. 

Paul Lee

Paul Lee plays basketball professionally for the Magnolia Hotshots of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA). He is from the Philippines. He was born in Tondo, Manila, Philippines, on February 14, 1989. Lee is six feet tall and plays the shooting guard/point guard position. 

In the 2011 PBA draft, Rain or Shine Elasto Painters selected him second overall. Throughout his career, Lee has received several honors, including MVP of the PBA Finals and PBA champion. 

Mark Barroca

Mark Barroca is a professional basketball player from the Philippines who plays for the Magnolia Hotshots. He’s a point guard. Barroca was born in Zamboanga City, Philippines, on April 25, 1986. 

When he was a college basketball player at Far Eastern University, the Shopinas.com Clickers selected him fifth overall in the 2011 PBA draft. Barroca has received several honors throughout his career, including PBA champion and 2× PBA Finals Most Valuable Player.

Jackson Corpuz

Jackson Corpuz is a Filipino professional basketball player who plays for the Magnolia Hotshots. He was born on February 8, 1989, in Ilagan, Isabela, Philippines. 

Standing six feet, four inches tall, Corpuz is a power forward in the game. He was not selected in the PBA draft in 2014, and the Mahindra Floodbuster signed him in 2017. Corpuz is well-known for constantly dyeing his hair a variety of colors.

The Coach

Chito Victolero is a former player and current coach in the professional basketball league in the Philippines. In the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA), he now serves as the head coach of the Magnolia Hotshots. Victolero is well-known for his defensive playing style, emphasizing the necessity of defense to triumph in the competition. 

During his playing career in the Philippine Basketball League (PBL), he was victorious in four championship games. As a head coach, he has one PBA title (the Governors’ in 2018) and was recognized as the PBA Baby Dalupan Coach of the Year in 2018.

Legendary Players

Alvin Patrimonio

Alvin Patrimonio spent his entire career playing for the Purefoods Hotdogs from 1988 to 2004. He has a number of PBA records:

• Most Consecutive Games (596)
• Second Most MVPs (4, Tied with Ramon Fernandez)
• Third Most Points (15,091)
• Fourth Most Rebounds (Over 6,000)
• 1998 Philippine Centennial Team Member
• 2000 PBA 25 Greatest Players
• 2015 PBA 40 Greatest Players
• 10x PBA Mythical First Team
• PBA Mythical Second Team (1995)
• PBA All-Star Game MVP (1991)

Patrimonio won six championships during his tenure with Purefoods. His main position was power forward and he was known for his toughness along with his high skill level. Those attributes helped him overcome being a little undersized for his chosen position at 6’3.

He has career averages of 17.6 points, 7.2 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game.

James Yap

James Yap, who was called Big Game James by fans, is the other Magnolia player with multiple MVPs. He has spent the bulk of his career playing for the Magnolia Hotshots franchise, from 2004-2016. He came in during the season that ended up being Alvin Patrimonio’s final one and led the team to success afterwards. He was the second pick in the 2004 PBA Draft.

Yap’s career achievements include:

• 7x PBA Champion
• 4x PBA Finals MVP
• 2x PBA MVP
• 18x PBA All-Star
• PBA All-Star MVP (2012)
• 3x PBA Mythical First Team
• PBA Mythical Second Team (2011)
• PBA 40 Greatest Players (2015)

Yap plays the shooting guard and small forward positions and helped lead them to the 2014 Grand Slam, winning all conferences that season. He was part of the big trade that sent Paul Lee to the Hotshots and was sent to the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters, where he played from 2016-24. He is currently playing for Blackwater Bossing.

Yap has career averages of 14.8 points, 3.9 rebounds and 1.4 steals per game.