Even after all these years, Magnolia hasn’t forgotten about Ricardo Ratliffe.
It’s just that the circumstances haven’t allowed a reunion to materialize.
Hotshots head coach Chito Victolero admitted that there have been attempts in the previous PBA seasons to bring back the celebrated import, but the latter’s commitments to South Korea have prevented his return from happening.
“I think his home is Korea,” the champion mentor told Tiebreaker Times.
Some fans have been eagerly waiting for Ratliffe to return to the Philippines and suit up for Magnolia once more, especially with SoKor not competing in the upcoming FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 as they failed to qualify.
The last time he played in the PBA was in the 2017 Commissioner’s Cup. He replaced Tony Mitchell and helped the team—then carrying the Star banner—to the semifinals, where they bowed to the eventual champions, San Miguel, 3-1.
The 6-foot-8 bruiser from Virginia was expected to return the following season, but in January 2018, he bid farewell to the organization after becoming a naturalized South Korean, tasked to reinforce the men’s national team.
South Korea has actually been Ratliffe’s second home. He began his professional career in the Korean Basketball League (KBL) in 2012 with the Ulsan Mobis Phoebus. Since 2020, he’s been with the Jeonju KCC Egis.
Still, it didn’t stop the Hotshots from trying to get the former Missouri Tiger back on board, especially during the conferences where they couldn’t find any sense of import stability. Unfortunately, they just could not.
“Meron akong year na medyo papalit-palit kami ng import, and I called him na baka pwede, kahit playoffs lang maglaro siya,” recalled Victolero as his team had a total of seven imports in the 2018 and 2019 Commissioner’s Cups.
“But, you know, he’s under contract.”
The most recent time Victolero and Ratliffe were in touch was prior to the 2022 Commissioner’s Cup, but due to similar circumstances, the perennial contenders eventually went with Serbian workhorse Nick Rakocevic.
It’s the same issue for the 2023-24 Commissioner’s Cup.
“He’s not available,” said the veteran mentor as the KBL season coincided with the midseason conference. “Hindi siya ‘yung import na he’s going everywhere … And it’s hard for him also na mawala kaagad doon (Korea).”
Still, Victolero and Co. aren’t done hoping.
“Of course. We want him,” said the cager turned coach.
Magnolia is expected to announce its import for next season sooner.
