Chito Victolero

Ercito "Chito" Victolero (born November 29, 1975) is a Filipino professional basketball coach and former player who serves as the head coach for the Mapúa Cardinals of NCAA Philippines.

His playing career began in 1995 with the Stag Pale Pilseners of the Philippine Basketball League (PBL). In 1998, he turned pro upon joining the Manila Metrostars of the Metropolitan Basketball Association before moving to the first incarnation of the San Juan Knights in 1999. 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 and played there until 2005 when he had a short stint with the FedEx Express.

In 2009, Victolero began his coaching career with the Mapúa Cardinals where he coached the team until 2012. In 2014, he returned to the PBA where he coached the Kia / Mahindra franchise before a move to the Magnolia Hotshots in 2016, leading the team to a PBA title in the 2018 PBA Governors' Cup. He would go on to run the playbook for the Hotshots until his replacement in 2025. In 2026, he returned to Mapúa.

Early years

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

After playing college basketball for Mapúa, by 1998 he played for MBA Manila Metrostars, and in 1999 he is transfer in the expansion team San Juan Knights until 2001. 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

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. In 2025, Victolero was replaced by retiring player LA Tenorio.^[4]

On February 25, 2026, Victolero was named head coach of the Mapúa Cardinals, returning to his coaching roots since his initial departure in 2012.^[5]

Coaching record

Collegiate record

Professional record

References

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.
4. ^ Terrado, Reuben (2025-07-28). "Alfrancis Chua confirms LA Tenorio now the Magnolia Hotshots coach". Spin.ph. Retrieved 2025-07-28.
5. ^ Sayson, Homer D. (2026-02-25). "Chito Victolero comes home as new coach of Mapua Cardinals". SPIN.ph. Retrieved 2026-02-25.