By NIKOLE JAVIER
Zavier Lucero will not only sit out the winner-take-all Game 3 between University of the Philippines and Ateneo, but he’ll be ending his UAAP career with a torn ACL.
The 6-foot-6 forward, who was present during the Fighting Maroons’ practice on Friday, Dec. 16, tearfully broke the news to his teammates.
Lucero, who committed to UP after his eligibility in Season 84 earlier this year, played hero for the Fighting Maroons in their historic championship run and in the season that followed.
The two-and-through player gave UP its winning boost in Game 1 with a double-double outing of 14 points and 11 rebounds including key defensive stops that downed Ateneo’s morale in the last stretch with his two blocks.
In Game 2 last Dec. 14, however, the 23-year-old’s UAAP run would end in the most anticlimactic way following his non-contact fall at the 8:31 mark of the fourth period.
Lucero clutched at his left knee and had to be carried out of the court. His MRI test was scheduled for the following day as the whole team held its breath.
NowheretogobutUP founder Renan Dalisay shared that the team will “Zav The Date” on Monday and “walang bibitaw” as their battle cry in the decider.
“The stakes are high and the road is steep for the Fighting Maroons, who may go into this Finals Battle without key personnel,” wrote the official Facebook page of the UP Men’s Basketball Team.
UP head coach Goldwin Monteverde could only hope for the best.
With Lucero now out of the picture, Monteverde still believes that his team has what it takes to recover in time for the do-or-die game as they take on Ateneo on Monday, Dec. 19 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
“But then again, sabi ko nga ang importante, knowing ‘yong team naman, hindi naman ito ‘yong team na susuko na lang nang ganoon. ‘Yon ‘yong bangon namin for Monday,” Monteverde said.