Ricci Rivero is eager to play again after enduring an ordeal caused by an ankle injury that practically altered the course of his career.
The 24-year-old has renewed excitement following a derailed stint in Taiwan last year as he is now looking to make it to the PBA by way of the Rookie Draft.
“Mas na-aatat lang ako ngayon na makabalik kasi for the longest time, nagba-basketball ako araw-araw. Tapos, masa-stop lang ng ganun,” he said.
Rivero was initially set to join the growing list of Filipinos playing abroad when he signed with Taoyuan of the P.League+ before the 2022-23 season.
(C) P.League+
However, he aggravated a nagging injury he had been nursing during his final year with University of the Philippines during a practice session with the Leopards team prior to the season.
The 6-foot combo guard was released by the ball club just a day before the season started, and he subsequently returned home to focus on his recovery.
“Mahirap kasi hindi ko rin matatapos ‘yung sa Taiwan, so nag-recover ako,” he recalled.
“Buong summer, ‘yun lang, focus talaga ako roon sa pag-recover.”
He did recover, and his journey back to the game began with a brief campaign with Blackwater in the Third Conference of PBA 3×3 Season 2 last February.
(C) PBA Images
“Naglaro ako ng 3×3. Then after that, ‘yun, focus lang ulit sa skills and to be in shape,” said Rivero. “And, ‘yun prepare for the draft.”
Fast forward to the present, and he is leading this year’s draft class, which is expected to be one of the deepest in recent memory with 128 applicants.
“Now is the time na masasabi ko na ready na rin,” said the two-time UAAP gold medalist.
“For the past years, ‘yun naman ‘yung iniisip namin ng family and management, na kung OK na ba, kung ready na ba … Excited ako.”
Rivero is filled with so much excitement that he doesn’t mind which round he gets picked in or which team selects him.
“Kahit saan naman ako, basta doon ako sa magfi-fit ako sa system. Why not, ‘di ba,” said the former Gilas Pilipinas pool member.
“Mas nae-excite talaga ako malaman kung anong team and mag-training, kasi I haven’t been in a team for quite a while now. And, am just excited to be back kasi ang tagal ko nag-prepare for this,” he added.
“Nakaka-excite.”
