The confetti from the PBA Philippine Cup has barely settled, and the Magnolia Hotshots are already at the epicenter of the league’s offseason drama. The focus isn't just on their new head coach, LA Tenorio, but on the two talented forwards whose futures are shrouded in mystery: Will Navarro and Zavier Lucero.
Both players, key to Magnolia's plans to infuse new, younger talent into an aging core, are at the center of rampant speculation about a potential move to the Korean Basketball League (KBL). The rumors, which have been circulating for weeks, have now been given a new layer of complexity.
In an interview with DWAR Abante Radyo Sports’ Zeus Valdez, San Miguel Corporation (SMC) Sports Director Alfrancis Chua admitted he was in the dark. “Wala akong alam, hindi ko alam kung ano ang status nila,” Chua said, adding, “As of now, wala akong alam.” While Chua's statement might be seen as a desire to stay out of the fray, it also highlights the precarious position Magnolia finds itself in. With Navarro and Lucero's contracts nearing expiration, the franchise is facing the very real possibility of losing two key players to overseas leagues, a growing trend that is challenging the PBA's place in the regional basketball landscape.
However, there may be a glimmer of hope for Magnolia, at least in the case of Lucero. Reports from inside the SMC camp suggest that Lucero may ultimately decide to stay put, a decision that would give new head coach LA Tenorio a much-needed shot in the arm ahead of the 50th season of the PBA. Lucero’s suitor was none other than Anyang Jung Kwan Jang, the former KBL champion that desperately needed help.
But Anyang’s recent decision to bring back high-flyer Rhenz Abando for the 2025-26 campaign has seemingly ended their pursuit of Lucero's services. This is a massive break for Magnolia, especially considering how Lucero, the fifth pick of the PBA Season 48 Rookie Draft, performed in the recent Philippine Cup. His averages of 18.2 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 2.1 assists made him one of the top contenders for the Best Player of the Conference award, showcasing his potential as a franchise cornerstone.
This new development, while a huge relief, doesn't completely close the door on a KBL exit for Lucero. His camp may still be exploring other options overseas, and there are other KBL teams with vacant Asian Quota spots. Still, Anyang's decision is a welcome sign for Magnolia, a franchise that last won a championship in the 2018 Governors’ Cup and has descended into seasons of disappointment.
The focus now shifts to whether Magnolia can seize this golden opportunity to finally strike a deal that Lucero can’t refuse. The excitement around Tenorio's hiring signals a huge pivot for the franchise, but it will all be for naught if they can't retain their top young talent. For Magnolia fans, who have been waiting for a hero to rise from the ashes of their team's struggles, the possibility of keeping Lucero is a much-needed morale boost. They are now left to hope that this is the moment the team's luck truly turns, and that they can finally secure the future they have been desperately building towards.
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