By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña
After seven long years, a familiar name will be making his PBA comeback and will reunite with his former squad for the upcoming 2024 Commissioner’s Cup.
Welcome back, Ricardo Ratliffe!
Ratliffe, who quickly made his name in the PBA after beefing up the Star Hotshots (now Magnolia Chicken Timplados) from 2016-2017, is ready to run it back and deliver the elusive import-laced conference championship title to the SMC-backed franchise.
The bruising frontcourt anchor already retired as the naturalized player of the Korean national basketball team and is now free to join any team under his terms.
Ratliffe brings a wealthy winning atmosphere after clinching the Korean Basketball League (KBL) championship four times and was named the league’s Player of the Year thrice.
The former William Jones Cup Most Valuable Player (MVP) always said that the Philippines will always have a special place in his heart and was always willing to return soon as he wraps up his national team duties with Korea.
Ratliffe will aim to end Magnolia’s post-season heartbreak following a frustrating first-round loss at the hands of the Rain or Shine Elastopainters in the ongoing PBA Governor’s Cup.
It was a difficult phase for the Chicken Timplados after changing imports thrice in the conference, with the latest replacement Jabari Bird arriving late when the playoffs kicked off.
Head coach Chito Victolero addressed that changing imports became an issue for them, as the much-needed cohesion and chemistry weren’t met when they needed to mesh in the most crucial stretch of the conference.
In preparation for the upcoming Commissioner’s Cup, the Magnolia management confirmed that Ratliffe will be arriving early in the country to kickstart their training camp.
