After an electrifying PBA return, Ricardo Ratliffe revealed that he had to defer his plans of playing in Dubai to be able to come back for another tour of duty with the Star Hotshots.
“Kinda because I played here last year. I just want to go to Dubai to see something new, but I love these guys and decided to go on what I knew, the Star Hotshots,” Ratliffe told InterAksyon.
Ratliffe, who replaced Tony Mitchell, scored 37 points and 22 boards in Star’s 107-97 win over TNT in his first game back in the Philippines.
Ratliffe had his first stint with Star last year, helping the team avoid early elimination in last season’s Commissioner’s Cup.
He helped the eight-seeded Hotshots force a do-or-die encounter against top ranked San Miguel before bowing out of the tournament.
Before coming to Manila, Ratliffe led his team in the Korean league to the finals but fell short.
“I was in the finals in Korea, but we lost, then I was given an opportunity to come back here,” Ratliffe said.
Ratliffe said a lot of changes have happened to the team since his last stint.
“It’s a totally different team,” said Ratliffe. “A lot of new guys I played against. They said they knew me. But I like the style we’re playing this year. The offense is quite similar from last year, but the defense is better. We’re taking pride on our defense.”
Star head coach Chito Victolero said the team has been in contact with Ratliffe but had to wait to finish his contractual obligations in Korea.
“We want Ricardo but mayroon siyang Korea. Pero we keep on talking to him,” added Victolero.