The Magnolia Hotshots and their legions of fans can rest easy now as Zavier Lucero, the team’s star forward, has resigned for two more years, according to multiple reports.
Lucero signing a two-year extension comes on the heels of rampant speculation that the former UP Fighting Maroon might be looking to take his talent somewhere else—something his ex-teammate, Will Navarro, did this offseason when he signed with the Busan KCC Egis of the KBL. Arvin Tolentino, another talented wing, did the same, signing with the Seoul SK Knights in the same league.
Navarro and Tolentino jumping ship to the KBL fueled speculation that Lucero could be next, as it appeared KBL teams were on the lookout for talented and athletic wings. Lucero seemingly holding out added fuel to the fire so to speak, putting the Hotshots and their fans on pins and needles nearly all season long.
After all that, though, Zavier Lucero is back with Magnolia, and that’s certainly good news for newly installed Hotshots coach LA Tenorio heading to PBA Season 50.
Zavier Lucero: Magnolia’s Present and Future
The Hotshots have no doubt made some great moves in the offseason thus far, getting Tenorio as coach; trading for shooter Javi Gomez de Liaño, resigning Russel Escoto, Peter Alfaro, and Joseph Eriobu; and drafting Yukien Andrada. But getting back Zavier Lucero might be Magnolia’s biggest move of all, as the 6-foot-6 forward had emerged as the team’s best and most reliable player starting last season.
In the 2025 PBA Philippine Cup, in fact, Lucero was the hottest of Hotshots, putting up 18.2 points, 7.9 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 0.9 steal, and 1.5 blocks on 52.1% shooting overall, and 41.3% from downtown. He was, in short, a force on both ends for Magnolia, and losing him in any way would have left a gaping hole in the team.
But that won’t be happening anymore with Lucero finally signing on the dotted line. Now, Tenorio will have the luxury of playing one of the PBA’s best, most dynamic slashers in Lucero with one of local hoops’ top shooters in Gomez de Liaño and either or both of Paul Lee and Mark Barroca, grizzled veterans with topflight playmaking abilities.
Additionally, Zavier Lucero coming back means Tenorio will have at his disposal last season’s Magnolia core, which made the playoffs in all three conferences, and was one defensive stop away from making it to the semis of the Philippine Cup. And with the infusion of a new system and some fresh talent, that Lucero-led core could be in line for bigger, brighter things in PBA Season 50.
