Magnolia Hotshots’ Zavier Lucero during a PBA Commissioner’s Cup game against Terrafirma Dyip. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIREr.net
MANILA, Philippines–Being on the lower end of a playoff race may be discouraging to some, but Magnolia’s Zavier Lucero simply looks at it as additional fuel for triumph.
On Friday, the Hotshots bolstered their playoff chances in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup after defeating pesky Terrafirma, 89-84, behind the herculean effort of Lucero.
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Still stinging from their Christmas Clasico loss to Ginebra last year, Lucero said the Hotshots now have enough to run for a better playoff positioning as the race reaches a fever pitch.
READ: PBA: Look forward, Paul Lee urges ‘heavy’ Magnolia Hotshots
“I don’t think we need any more fuel. Everyone can see how our games have turned out. Christmas was Christmas but we’ve lost a lot of tough ones,” said Lucero.
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“It’s kind of just us having to win games. No other fuel needed but that. Either we win or we go home, pretty much.”
Lucero played exactly how a player with his back against the wall would play as he finished with 17 points, six rebounds, three assists, a steal and a block to power the Hotshots over the struggling Dyip.
The University of the Philippines product also helped ease some weight off import Ricardo Ratliffe’s shoulders, who finished with a double-double of 32 points and 14 rebounds to push Magnolia to a 3-5 record.
READ: PBA Finals: Magnolia side eager to shed ‘Introvoys’ tag
Coach Chito Victolero, much like Lucero, knew the magnitude of Friday’s game, saying that from here on out, every Hotshots game would be crucial for a playoff push.
Which is why he didn’t leave Lucero and company’s efforts unnoticed.
“It’s another grind-out game for us. This is us now. That’s the theme of our games now, always close games. This time we closed it out, this time we executed well, we were disciplined down the stretch and we found the right guys in the last few seconds of the game,” said Victolero.
“I give credit to these players because there’s pressure but they’re always there to execute on both ends of the floor,” added the top coach.
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Lucero and the Hotshots face a big challenge in their quest for a playoff spot on Sunday when they face off against reigning Commissioner’s Cup champion, San Miguel Beer at Ynares Sports Center in Antipolo.
