Zavier Lucero is picked fifth overall in the 2023 PBA Draft by NorthPort Batang Pier. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines–Former University of the Philippines star Zavier Lucero has been made available to possibly make his PBA debut for NorthPort against NLEX in Friday’s PBA Philippine Cup at Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The Batang Pier activated the first round pick of this season’s Rookie Draft on the eve of the contest after missing the whole duration of the Commissioner’s Cup due to an ACL injury.
Fellow neophyte John Amores was placed on the injured/reserve list to make room for Lucero.
SCHEDULE: 2024 PBA Philippine Cup
Lucero has not played since getting hurt while playing for UP in Game 2 of the UAAP Season 85 Finals against Ateneo in December 2022.
That did not prevent NorthPort from selecting him fifth overall in the draft last September.
During his UAAP run, Lucero was best known for powering UP to the Season 84 crown, the first for the Diliman campus since 1986.
READ: No. 5 pick Zavier Lucero raring to get back to action and join NorthPort
NorthPort has also activated William Navarro, who last saw action in the 2022 Commissioner’s Cup quarterfinals against Barangay Ginebra with a similar injury.
Both are expected to shore up the NorthPort roster led by this season’s top scorer Arvin Tolentino and rookies Cade Flores and Fran Yu.