The UP Fighting Maroons will take a crack at the winner-take-all game against Ateneo on Monday without Zavier Lucero as he goes down with a torn left ACL.
What the whole University of the Philippines community has feared has come to reality as MRI results showed that Zavier Lucero of the Fighting Maroons has suffered a season ending ACL tear, making him unavailable for the season deciding Game 3 of the UAAP Season 85 men’s basketball tournament against the Ateneo Blue Eagles.
Members of the UP management committee-- Cavite governor Jonvic Remulla and Pato Gregorio-- confirmed to Inquirer the unfortunate development and revealed that Lucero himself broke the news to his teammates during their viewing session.
“I'm done,” Lucero said tearfully to the officials.
The UP winger sustained the injury to his knee in the fourth quarter of Game 2 after a fall on his way to the basket going for a drive against Ateneo's Chris Koon and had to be carried out of the court at the 8:31 mark.
UP eventually lost the second game while Lucero went to the hospital right away for medical tests and additional findings while his MRI scan was scheduled late Wednesday.
“Right now, i-schedule natin siya for MRI just to find out kung ano talagang nangyari. Hopefully, hindi naman sana ganu'n ka-grabe. We’ll know siguro by tomorrow (Thursday),” head coach Gold Monteverde said in the post-game media session.
Days after UP’s loss, the entire team was kept in the dark as they awaited for the results and when Lucero dropped the news on his team, the entire team cried while Lucero was speaking in front of them.
The 6-foot-7 forward then gave an inspirational talk for the team and pleaded to go all the way for him as he ends his UAAP career in this manner.
“He basically gave the team the motivation it needs, even if we will be one player down,” Gregorio said.
The defending champions will then have to play the winner-take-all Game 3 on Monday at 6 p.m. at Smart Araneta Coliseum and hopefully clinch that back-to-back championship for their fallen brother.
Lucero’s injury will also halt his professional league aspirations as his injury could sit him out for at least a year.
Tags: #UAAP, #basketball, #Ateneo, #UP