With the re-signing of Zavier Lucero, the Magnolia Hotshots are getting ready for PBA Season 50 which will open with the Philippine Cup.
Zavier Lucero isn’t going anywhere after all.
Rumors about Lucero taking his talents overseas ended Saturday, Sept. 13 after the athletic forward renewed his contract with Magnolia in the PBA.
Lucero and the Hotshots agreed to a two-year extension, per player agent Marvin Espiritu.
Talks about Lucero leaving the PBA gained traction after teammate William Navarro headed to Korea with the Busan KCC Egis.
[RELATED STORY: Will Navarro heads to KBL with Busan KCC Egis after parting ways with Magnolia Hotshots]
But now, Lucero is staying put and is ready to help the Hotshots take it to another level after failing to advance to the semifinals in the PBA Season 49 Philippine Cup.
With Lucero at the forefront of Magnolia’s attack, the Hotshots wound up third at the end of the elimination round of the previous All-Filipino.
Unfortunately, their impressive run was cut short in the quarterfinals after squandering a twice-to-beat edge against eventual finalist TNT.
But after also picking up guys like Yukien Andrada in the Draft and trading for the PBA rights of Javi Gomez de Liaño, the Hotshots are now raring to bounce back in Season 50 under new coach LA Tenorio.
[ALSO READ: Javi Gomez de Liaño on playing for Tenorio, Magnolia: ‘Hopefully we build a winning dynasty’]
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Like most sportswriters, Jan Ballesteros once dreamed of becoming a professional hooper. But he learned the hard way that it’s not for everyone.
He continues to be involved in the sport he loves, but this time as a member of the PBA Press Corps. Aside from primarily covering the PBA, he is also assigned to cover Gilas Pilipinas.