IT was mere coincidence Zavier Lucero played his best game for Magnolia in the new PBA season against his former team Northport.
The sophomore big man finished with a double-double of 16 points and 12 rebounds as he imposed his inside presence in the Hotshots' 105-94 win over the Batang Pier in Wednesday night's Governors Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Lucero shot 7-of-15 from the field including a three pointer during the closely-fought contest that wasn't in the bag for Magnolia until it made a late run in the homestretch.
The center out of University of the Philippines later downplayed it wasn't an extra motivation on his part to play against the team that previously selected him no. 5 overall in the Season 48 draft.
"I don't think it added any extra anything. For me, I approached it the same no matter what game it is," Lucero said.
"But for sure it's fun to be on the other side when it's difficult to explain playing against guys that I saw every day."
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Lucero was shipped by Northport to Magnolia for the pair of Jio Jalalon and Abu Tratter in the off season.
He played for just half a season for the Batang Pier after initially recuperating from an ACL injury he suffered while still playing for the Fighting Maroons.
The Fil-Am big man however, admitted enjoying sharing the same court again with his former teammates, especially fellow sophomore Cade Flores with whom he had a great time bantering while playing against each other.
"Just friendly thrash talk was really what it was," Lucero said of his exchanges with Flores. "We're jabbing back and forth the whole game and it made the game a little bit more fun and adds a little bit competitiveness to it at all."
The win put Magnolia above the .500 mark (3-2) to end the first round of the group stage.
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The Hotshots will travel to Panabo City in Davao this weekend and face the Meralco Bolts in their rematch this conference. (RG)
