Will Navarro, Zav Lucero set to return in PBA Philippine Cup

THE future looks bright for NorthPort as two of its young big men are set to return to action when the PBA Season 48 Philippine Cup opens shop on February 28 at the Ynares Center in Antipolo.

Former Gilas standout and Ateneo big man Will Navarro is already practicing with the Batang Pier since recovering from an ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) tear on his knee, which he sustained during the 2022-23 PBA Commissioner’s Cup quarterfinals series versus Barangay Ginebra in December 2022.

It may have been a long absence for the Batang Pier’s prized wingman, whom the team selected second during the 2020 PBA Rookie special draft.

But even while recovering from the full ACL tear, NorthPort management locked the sweet-shooting wingman to a fresh two-year deal in July 2023.

“Will Navarro cleared to play. He is practicing with the team since we resumed practice for this (coming) conference,” NorthPort coach Bonnie Tan told The Manila Times.

Navarro is expected to make his Season 48 debut on the Philippine Cup opening night when NorthPort takes on NLEX in the main game of the scheduled double-header.

The 27-year-old Navarro averaged 14.3 points, 7.6 rebounds and 3.1 assists, while shooting 35 percent from downtown during the 2022-23 Commissioner’s Cup before going down with the season-ending knee injury.

Meanwhile, Tan confirmed as well that former University of the Philippines stalwart Zav Lucero is already heading back to Manila as he looks to make his PBA debut for the Batang Pier in the All-Filipino conference.

Grounded by his own ACL tear on his knee, an injury he sustained during the UAAP Season 85 in December 2022, Lucero has been on rehab as he worked his way back while staying in the US.

“Lucero is arriving this week,” Tan said of the 6-foot-6 former UP standout, whom the Batang Pier selected fifth overall in the 2023 PBA Draft.

Lucero averaged 11.36 points for the Fighting Maroons in his final season in the UAAP, along with 5.29 rebounds, 1.93 assists, and 1.43 steals in 14 games.

The athletic Lucero earned a Mythical Five award in the UAAP Season 84 in 2022 where the Fighting Maroons won the championship.

Navarro and Lucero are welcome additions for NorthPort as the young duo are expected to add depth and support for the team, which is headed by vastlyimproved forward Arvin Tolentino, who led the locals in scoring in the Commissioner’s Cup with 22.4 points, while adding 5.7 rebounds and 2.4 assists per outing.

NorthPort placed sixth in the import-spiced conference and got bundled out by Barangay Ginebra 106-93 in their quarterfinal duel.