Powered by Zavier Lucero, the Magnolia Hotshots lead the PBA Philippine Cup with a perfect 3-0 record.
Magnolia is off to a roaring 3-0 card in the PBA Season 49 Philippine Cup and one major contributor to this sizzling start is the consistent play of sophomore Zavier Lucero.
The 6-foot-7 forward stepped up big-time as the Hotshots tackled back-to-back tough customers in Converge and San Miguel Beer after their 106-84 drubbing of Blackwater on opening weekend.
In their duel with the FiberXers that served as part of the league’s 50th anniversary day offering, Lucero fired nine of his 18 in the fourth quarter to spark Magnolia’s 24-15 closing barrage that led to an 83-71 victory.
He followed this up with a game-high 24 markers with seven rebounds and two assists to help the Hotshots to a 98-95 come-from-behind overtime win over the Beermen in a thrilling battle for the solo lead on Holy Wednesday.
For this pair of stellar performances, the former University of the Philippines standout was adjudged the PBA Press Corps-Pilipinas Live Player of the Week for the period April 9 to 16.
Lucero earned his second PoW citation for the season, becoming only the fourth player to do so. He was previously feted for the stretch of Jan. 29 to Feb. 2 after helping the Hotshots catch the last bus to the Commissioner’s quarterfinals with a critical 129-92 romp over Meralco to end the elims and a 112-81 demolition of NLEX in the sudden death for no. 8.
Just like that first time, Lucero was quick to deflect credit.
“It was a team effort for sure,” said Lucero, who beat teammate Ian Sangalang, NLEX’s Xyrus Torres, Phoenix’s Ricci Rivero and SMB’s June Mar Fajardo for the weekly honors.
“I'm just grateful for the opportunity to be able to contribute. But sitting here (with individual citations) or me scoring or whatever it's (secondary). As long as we come out with the W, that's the most important part.
I wouldn't be sitting here if guys didn't make plays down the stretch to make us win. It's a team sport, never just one. But all glory to God that I can do what I can do and hope I can continue.”