Though Magnolia lost to Ginebra, Zavier Lucero can take comfort in the fact that he can get to spend some quality time with his parents, who are in town.
As Magnolia standout Zavier Lucero played under the bright lights of his squad's Manila Clasico showdown with Ginebra last June 1, two special people in his life were present among the crowd — his parents.
The reliable forward was elated to have his mom and dad sit in the patron section of the Smart Araneta Coliseum to cheer him on.
When asked about it after the game, the usually stoic Lucero flashed the biggest smile.
“It’s good. Like I said, it's great to have them at the game,” said Lucero, who added it was his mother's first time watching the PBA live.
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Though he is separated by distance from them most of the time — with them living in California and him making a living in the Philippines — his parents have always been his No. 1 supporters.
“They get up and watch every game. The game’s at 3 or 4:30 a.m. [there]. So they’ve been my biggest supporters for sure,” Lucero said.
Magnolia, though, was on the wrong end of this latest Manila Clasico installment after the Gin Kings ran away with an 85-81 win.
Still, the 6-foot-6 rising star shone with 16 points, eight rebounds and two steals.
He may not have emerged victorious on the court, but spending time with his parents is already a win.
“But it's better to have them here in person and I can spend quality time with them outside the basketball court,” Lucero added.