ANTIPOLO – It’s just a game — or games, perhaps — as far as Zav Lucero is concerned now that he’s perparing to face his former team in the playoffs.
The young winger would rather stay focused on the task at hand instead of lingering on sentimentality. And his task is to help Magnolia overcome the twice-to-beat NorthPort in the PBA Season 49 Commissioner’s Cup quarterfinals.
“Nothing extra,” he said Sunday night moments after their 112-81 dispatching of NLEX in the knockout match for the no. 8 spot at the Ynares Center here. “They’re the next team that we gotta win against to be able to move on.”
Lucero began his PBA career with NorthPort after he was the fifth overall selection by the franchise in the 2023 Rookie Draft.
The move was a gamble of sorts for the Batang Pier, as they picked the Fil-Am cager while he was still recovering from an anterior cruciate ligament injury.
He suffered the injury during his final year with the University of the Philippines in the UAAP.
Because of that, Lucero didn’t play until the Season 48 Philippine Cup, in which the team got edged out by Terrafirma in the battle for the last quarterfinal slot.
It would then prove to be a short stint for him with Coach Bonnie Tan and Co. He was traded to Magnolia last July in exchange for veteran point guard Jio Jalalon and the seldom-used Abu Tratter in a 2-for-1 deal.
About seven months later, he now finds himself entering just his second quarterfinal stint, versus the very team where he realized his pro dreams.
But then, there’s ‘nothing extra’ in it as he mentioned.
“We’ve been in, what is that, three do-or-dies now? In a row? Is it four? I don’t even know. But just two do-or-dies to get to the next round, and they’re the next team,” he said.
“So, we gotta prepare the right way,” added Lucero, who finished with 14 points, six rebounds, three assists, and a block against the Road Warriors.
He did acknowledge, though, that they will have their work cut out for them in facing the top-seeded team, who’s armed with a win-once incentive for the quarters that tips off this Wednesday at the SMART Araneta Coliseum.
It will be tricky to try and contain an offense bannered by BPC candidate Arvin Tolentino and a Best Import favorite in Kadeem Jack. Then there’s do-it-all Joshua Munzon, who’s also been one of NorthPort’s best defensive guys.
“Obviously, he’s a problem,” said Lucero, referring to Tolentino. “He’s a problem, their import’s a problem, Josh has been playing amazing this conference.
“So, we got our hands full. for sure. There’s a reason why they’re the no. 1 seed. And it’s not just those three guys, they’re getting it from everywhere,” he added.
As daunting as the task may seem, Lucero believes that he could be of help in challenging the Batang Pier with how familiar he is with his old club.
He’s confident, too, of the Hotshots’ chances despite the twice-to-win situation, for they’re coming in hot with a four-game winning streak.
“No one knows better than me in what those guys can do,” he offered. “It’s all respect to them but, you know, we have a pretty good team, too, and we’re playing our best basketball right now, so we just have to keep rolling.”
