Zavier Lucero (right) did everything for Magnolia at the start of the conference. —PBA Images
Zavier Lucero constantly emphasizes that his beautiful game for Magnolia at the start of the PBA Philippine Cup is to take the opportunity.
It is not only a program of a single man despite having been appointed match of the match in two of the three victories that the Hotshots produced in as many games to win the head in solo in the fully-Filino tournament.
“I would not be seated here (in the post-match press conference podium) if the guys do not play in the section to win us,” said Lucero after the victory of Magnolia 98-95 in overtime against San Miguel beer at Smart Araneta Coliseum before the Lent break.
Lucero, who was appointed player of the PBA Press Corps week, is one of the reasons for the early success of the Hotshots, that coach Chito Victolero will seek to maintain after the last three conferences were struggling with outings in the quarterfinals.
And having a 3-0 sheet and beat one of the favorites of the perennial title in San Miguel is still a good starting point, in particular before the two finalists of the two previous conferences begin their respective campaigns.
The TNT and the Barangay Ginebra of the Grand Slam search should make their debut in the Cup of the Philippines against separate competitors on Wednesday, the same action taken from the break of the current Holy Week. The two teams should appear prominently in the defending champion and play spoilers with Magnolia’s own ambitions.
TNT faces Nlex while Ginebra beats Terrafirma with Big Dome.
Prolonged break
For the Hotshots to support their game, they will have to keep the beautiful mixture between young people like Lucero and the recruit Jerom Lastimosa and the old guards of Mark Barroca, Ian Sangalang, Paul Lee and Calvin Abueva.
Lucero and Lastimosa were essential in the regulatory game and the extension against the Beermen, Barroca shot down key plans that sealed victory, while Victolero praised Sangalang for his defense in June Mar Fajardo Basse.
“The combination of veterans and young people is really an important factor,” said Victolero. “Of course, Zavier was very consistent, Jerom was the key in the section and it is the effort of the team.”
Magnolia will have an extended break because her next match will not be held before April 26, when the Hotshots go to Zamboanga City to face the Phoenix Fuel Masters.
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It will be a return home not only for Barroca, but also for another recruit by Peter Alfaro, who was also likely to thrive on the bench.
