PBA rookie Zavier Lucero in no rush getting into Bonnie Tan's system

Zavier Lucero is grateful to NorthPort for letting him take his sweet time getting back into his usual groove following his debut in the PBA Philippine Cup. 

The former two-and-through University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons forward, who hasn’t played in over year, was selected No. 5 overall in last year’s PBA Draft and decided to sit out the Commissioner’s Cup. 

The victory, though, is yet to come for the 24-year-old Fil-Am as the Batang Pier narrowly fell short in their conference-opening affair against the NLEX Road Warriors in overtime, 107-100, on Friday night, March 1, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum — exactly where Lucero ended his UAAP career after suffering a knee injury back in December 2022. 

While his recovery took some time, so is getting adjusted to head coach Bonnie Tan’s system. 

“It was a good introduction to basketball again. My first game back [since the injury], so I am just trying to find my rhythm again, just help the team win in any way I can. I look forward to building on it for sure,” Lucero said. 

“It’s getting there. I felt good out there, I didn’t feel too windy or anything like that. It’s just finding my rhythm again. I missed some gimmes, dropped some passes, so me getting back into the floor and things. It’s my first game in over a year. So I’m just happy that I made it through and my knees are still intact,” he added. 

In his first taste of the pro rank, the 6-foot-6 Season 84 Mythical Team member delivered 13 points off a 5-of-8 inside shooting in a meaningful half an hour of action that went with a promising defensive line of eight rebounds and four blocks, which was sort of his signature game with UP. 

“That’s part of my game that I’ll never sacrifice so whenever I have a chance to make a play on defense, I’m gonna go for it. That’s a big a part as offense, so for me, it’s always just been to help the team any way you can whether that’s offense or defense,” he said. 

“If I find myself in the position to make a play then [I] make the play. Just trying to help the team win as best as I can.” 

Under Tan, Lucero, who arrived in the Philippines last Sunday and headed straight to practice with NorthPort, is pleased to be given green light by the mentor to get his shots going. 

“Coach (Bonnie), well, he gives everyone he puts out there the trust to play their game. I’m out there, and like I said, I’m just trying to do my best to help the team win and do my best to find my spots, not forcing anything, but convert on open opportunities and shoot it when I’m open, create when I can. He’s letting us all kind of find our flow within the game and trust in us in that. I’m happy about that [although] obviously we didn’t get the win. But I felt like we were right there,” Lucero said. 

The Batang Pier are coming off a sorry quarterfinal exit in the Commissioner’s Cup after suffering a sweeping defeat against the Barangay Ginebra Kings. 

There, NorthPort made its first quarters appearance in an import-laden conference, and was geared up towards a promising campaign but evidently missed its key pieces in top scorer Arvin Tolentino, who was then bothered by a hurting knee, including also comebacking Will Navarro and Lucero himself. 

With an eye opening introduction to professional ball in the country, Lucero is unfazed by what’s to come and is looking to make the most of it.  

“You know that’s Philippine [basketball]. You welcome it [the physicality] and you expect it. You gotta be ready for it or otherwise you’re gonna get bullied. So me, I’m just finding my floor again, acclimatizing myself to the style of play again. I’m in no rush, just trying to get better each day and it’ll all come,” he said. 

Lucero opted to take the long way route to recovery, not missing any step towards full his eventual full healing. 

In Game 2 of UP’s final series against Ateneo in Season 85, Lucero went down clutching his left knee and had to be carried off the court. 

But previously, in the finals’ curtain-raiser, the Fighting Maroons had Lucero to rely on and losing him to the injury the following game meant they were in for an even tougher climb to their dream back-to-back title. 

When Game 3 rolled around, Lucero also stuck around and took his final shots in the collegiate off free throws following a technical foul against the Ateneo bench. 

Shortly after, the U.S. born big man went back to Valejo in California to undergo surgery and begin a grueling rehabilitation process as he decided to take everything in stride. 

“The reason [why I took so long to come back] is [because] I was trying to get my recovery all the way through. I entered my recovery back home with my physical therapists and my strength and conditioning coaches. So for me, from day one as soon as I started the process, I knew that I wanted to see it all the way through,” said Lucero. 

“I mean, I’m grateful to NorthPort for letting me do that. It’s why I can come back and feel comfortable about being back. It’s a major injury so that comfortability mentally and physically that pays dividends in your game. So for me, it was just about coming back when I was ready and when my knee felt ready.” 

Suiting up in the big league comes with bigger responsibilities to fend off the biggest guys, and Lucero, in over a year, stayed sharp and focused on being in an even better shape — something to show for his recovery. 

“That’s a big thing for me this offseason and during rehab, it was that I had the chance to [work on my fitness off] a year long recovery period. I got to tackle on muscle and put that weight on. I wanna say I gained a good 30 pounds just lifting and trying to prepare myself for the pro level and to withstand whatever I need to withstand. I definitely put my work in to be able to come back stronger,” he concluded.