Ratliffe back with Hotshots

MANILA, Philippines —  Magnolia Chicken Timplados head coach Chito Victolero said yesterday he’s recalling the Hotshots on Oct. 28 to prepare for the next PBA conference with tried-and-tested import Ricardo Ratliffe back after a seven-year absence. The Commissioner’s Cup starts Nov. 27 featuring guest team Hong Kong Eastern and no height limit for reinforcements.

Victolero said Ratliffe, fresh from playing 12 games for Changsha in the Chinese National Basketball League, will arrive on Oct. 26 and report for Magnolia’s first practice two days later. Ratliffe, 35, played for Magnolia, then known as Purefoods, in the 2016 and 2017 Commissioner’s Cups. In 2017, he averaged 32.2 points and 20.8 rebounds for Purefoods, recording a single-game career-high of 35 boards.

Ratliffe became a Korean naturalized citizen in 2018 and took the name Gun-ah Ra. He led South Korea to a bronze-medal finish at the 2018 Asian Games and in the 2019 FIBA World Cup, was the tournament’s No. 1 scorer and No. 1 rebounder. Ratliffe played on four championship teams in 12 Korean league seasons.

Magnolia failed to make it to the Governors’ Cup semifinals this season, bowing to Rain or Shine in the quarterfinals where leading local scorer Zavier Lucero sat out the last two games to observe concussion protocols. Victolero said Lucero, who’s now taking a break in the US, will be ready for camp. “OK na siya,” said Victolero. “Sobrang big factor siya, almost double double every game sa playoffs plus his defensive presence.”