Hailed as one of college basketball’s most sought-after talents, Filipino-American Zavier “Zav” Lucero is the latest addition to the UP Men’s Basketball Team (MBT) in its forthcoming title bid for a prospective University Athletics Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 84 tournament.
The 6-foot-7 standout launched his collegiate playing career at California State University (CSU) Maritime Academy in the US, where he graduated with a degree in International Business and Logistics.
Lucero has proven to be a versatile asset from the get-go and was named Freshman of the Year at the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) 2018 championship. In three seasons with CSU, he averaged 15 points and 8.3 rebounds on a 49.3% shooting rate.
The California native racked up individual accolades throughout his collegiate stint as a member of NAIA Division II’s 2020 All-American Team and a three-time All-Cal Pac Conference First Team player.
Coveted talent
During his time in the US, Lucero was already on the radar of the country’s leading collegiate basketball programs.
Among his formidable suitors were UAAP schools Ateneo de Manila University and De La Salle University. But Lucero ultimately stamped his future at the University of the Philippines, as confirmed by UPMBT Program Director Bo Perasol on Feb. 17.
State U’s new lead tactician Goldwin Monteverde praised Lucero’s commitment and “workhorse”-like efforts in his first training sessions for the maroon-and-white. He added that Lucero is “adjusting really well” to the change of environment so far.
The Fighting Maroons’ new recruit has joined the team’s on-campus training bubble after arriving in the country on Feb. 9 and clearing his mandatory five-day quarantine period.
According to Lucero’s camp, Fil-Am Nation Select, the decision to take his talents to State U was driven by the university’s “great guidance” and “mutual respect” in their shared vision of honing the next breed of stars in Philippine basketball. Fil-Am Nation Select also brought Henry Galinato, Jr. to the UP roster.
READ: UPMBT’s Galinato Jr. to ‘bring impact’ in UAAP 84
‘Back on top’
With two years of UAAP eligibility to play, Lucero seeks to strengthen the team’s young core and lead UP to its first men’s basketball title since 1986.
Cris Gopez, Lucero’s long-time trainer, said that the newest Fighting Maroon is a transformative figure for any team in the hunt for sporting glory.
“Whoever gets [Lucero] will get a game-changer and possibly a future MVP,” Gopez said in 2020 amid several offers from other UAAP teams back then.
In an interview with Rappler, Lucero candidly expressed his statement of intent to embark on a relentless and goal-driven pursuit in the UAAP.
“The school I choose is going to get a winner […] They will be getting someone whose hunger to be successful is always at the forefront and knows that in order for that to happen, the team has to be at the forefront as well.”
“I know [that] UP has the weapons. They just need to put it all together and I am someone who can help them get back on top,” he said.
With training bubble setups for all eight member universities underway, UAAP Season 84 is tentatively set to commence in the first quarter of 2022.
