CHICAGO - While still a UP Maroon, many believed Zavier Lucero always had the building blocks a player needed to transition to the pro ranks.
Quickness. Speed. Length. Athleticism. Sweet shooting touch. Defense.
No thanks to a torn ACL that hijacked his final collegiate season last December 2022, it took time for the 25-year old to take flight in the PBA.
READ Concussion grounds Zavier Lucero in Magnolia's Game 4 win
But after landing at Magnolia from NorthPort via a trade last July, the Fil-Am from Vallejo, California has rewarded his believers with a breakout Governors' Cup where he is making the postseason his personal playground.
In a heated best-of-five series that is deadlocked at 2-2, Lucero is having his way against tenacious Rain Or Shine defenders, averaging 15 points, 5.3 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game.
The 6-foot-6, 205-pound forward is shooting 62.9 percent from the field (17-of-27), going 1-of-1 from 4 and 3-of-4 from 3. Ironically he is just 4-of-9 from the free throw stripe.
VALUABLE ASSET.
Logging 28 minutes and 26 seconds an outing in a veteran-loaded team speaks to Lucero's value with the Hotshots who are under immense pressure to end a six-year title drought.
Unfortunately for Magnolia, Lucero's status for Saturday's knockout Game Five at the Ynares Center in Antipolo is still "to be determined."
Sidelined in Game Four due to what was described as a cut he suffered in last Sunday's Game Three where he "hit his head on the floor."
But a source told SPIN.ph that it was Jhonard Clarito's knee to the back of Lucero's head that caused the concussion.
WATCH:
Lucero has since been seen by a "reputable doctor known in the sports world."
Given how intense and physical the series has been, a common sentiment around Magnolia is that Clarito's actions may have been intentional and that it may have been a retaliation to the eye-poking involving Aaron Fuller and Ian Sangalang.
But in a bang bang play where bodies moved and flew at warp speed, it's hard to pass judgement on intent.
Either way, this scrap just adds a little layer of animosity in an already contentious quarterfinals showdown.
TNT JOINS RACE FOR TROY.
With Troy Rosario now officially an unrestricted free agent, TNT coach Chot Reyes told me that the Tropang Giga would love a reunion with the draft pick they traded to Blackwater in 2022.
"We are very interested in Troy," Reyes told me over the phone.
As reported by SPIN.ph colleague Snow Badua, Ginebra, Troy's favorite team growing up, is ahead in the race to net the prized center.
Given SMC's massive resources, plus the fact that Rosario already declined the Bossing's reported offer of P900,000 a month including bonuses, I asked Reyes if TNT can win a bidding war.
"I cannot comment further other than that we are interested in Troy," Reyes emphasized while adding that "we have a good relationship."
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