Zavier Lucero had the last laugh as he came home with a victory with his new team Magnolia in the PBA Season 49 Governors' Cup on Wednesday, Sept. 4.
Zavier Lucero gets the Best Player of the Game recognition after showing up for Magnolia in its match against his former team, NorthPort, in the PBA Season 49 Governors' Cup. | Photo (c) PBA
Zavier Lucero admitted that there was trash talking going on between him and his former teammates in NorthPort when they squared off in the PBA Season 49 Governors’ Cup on Wednesday, Sept. 4.
The former UP star Lucero had the last laugh, as the Hotshots hammered out a 105-94 win at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
But before anyone makes a big fuss about it, Lucero explained that it was all good-natured banter between him and his former crew.
“Just friendly trash talk. It is really what it is. Jabbing back and forth the whole game,” said Lucero with a smile after the match.
[WATCH: Zavier Lucero shows wares for Magnolia against old team NorthPort | PBA Highlights]
The trash talking, he added, spiced up the competition that saw Lucero finish with 16 points, 12 rebounds, two blocks and an assist to earn the Best Player of the Game nod.
“Makes the whole game a little more fun and adds a little bit of competitiveness to it all,” said Lucero.
In the end, the 6-foot-6 forward said he enjoyed the cutthroat battle against the Batang Pier, who played without import Venky Jois and William Navarro but still went toe-to-toe against the Hotshots.
[WATCH: Magnolia banks on Paul Lee's clutch heroics to fend off NorthPort | PBA Highlights]
“I don’t think [there] was any added extra anything. For me, I approach it the same no matter what game it is,” said Lucero.
“But for sure it was fun to be on the other side wearing different colors playing against guys I saw everyday.”