With a new contract and a new coach, expectations are high that Zavier Lucero could raise his game to another level for Magnolia going into the PBA season.
But Lucero, in his third season in the league and second with the Hotshots, has one thing in mind.
‘I just want to win,’ Lucero said.
Lucero unleashed the talents he hardly showed in his rookie campaign with NorthPort while recovering from an ACL injury and became arguably Magnolia’s best player in Season 48 with energy on both ends.
That also paved the way for Magnolia to reach an agreement with Lucero on a two-year deal despite rumors that the University of the Philippines product may have been headed elsewhere, particularly overseas.
He averaged 14.9 points, 6.9 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 1.2 blocks in Season 49, where Magnolia absorbed quarterfinal exits in all three conferences. Those finishes are among the reasons why the Hotshots made some changes, beginning with the appointment of Barangay Ginebra legend LA Tenorio as coach coupled with the addition of Javi Gomez de Liano in a trade with Terrafirma.
With Magnolia keeping the core of Mark Barroca, Paul Lee and Ian Sangalang intact, Lucero hopes to put the Hotshots in a position to be among the contenders, especially in the season-opening Philippine Cup where San Miguel Beer is the defending champion, TNT is eager to build on its near Grand Slam and Barangay Ginebra always in the running.
‘I understand that I will always be on the floor and that I have God-given talent that should help us,’ Lucero said. ‘But it’s a team game. I can’t do it by myself and none of us can do it by ourselves.
‘So it’s just about putting it together and contributing what I can. And the main thing is just not seeing my stats on offense, I’m just trying to make sure I’m solid on defense and do what I’m supposed to be doing.’