Ricardo Ratliffe and Magnolia are reuniting, at last.
The American bruiser is set to reinforce the Hotshots in the PBA Season 49 Commissioner’s Cup, Coach Chito Victolero confirmed to Tiebreaker Times.
He’s expected to arrive on October 26 — two days before the team commences its preparations for the mid-season conference, per the veteran mentor.
It’s a reunion that has long been awaited since he bid farewell in 2018 after becoming a naturalized South Korean, tasked to reinforce the men’s team.
But just last February, Ratliffe, or known by some fans in Korea and in Asia as Ra Gunah, announced his retirement from national team duties.
It came on the heels of the Koreans’ 96-62 victory over Thailand to split their assignments in the FIBA Asia Cup 2025 Qualifiers’ opening window.
He retired as the first naturalized player of the Korean men’s program, with a William Jones Cup title and a 2018 Asian Games bronze medal to boot.
But while his announcement via Instagram saddened some, it sparked hope over at this side of the region as it could mean a PBA return.
Eight months later and it finally happened, bringing as well some ray of sunshine for a franchise that’s yet to win a league title in six years.
The last time he played in Asia’s pioneering pro league was in the 2017 Commissioner’s Cup, when the club was still carrying the Star banner.
There, he replaced Tony Mitchell and helped the team reach the semifinals, where they bowed to eventual champions San Miguel, 3-1.
