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PBA Draft: Ricci Rivero drops to 17, gets drafted by Phoenix


The only UAAP hooper to win two championships with two different universities ended up in the second round

Ricci Rivero is headed to Phoenix Super LPG after being selected as the 17th overall pick in the 2023 PBA Rookie Draft on Sunday afternoon at Market! Market! in Taguig.

Rivero, 25, is one of the most decorated basketball players to ever grace the UAAP.

After his graduation, the athletic 6-foot-1 guard signed with P.League+ team Taoyuan.

However, he was not able to play a single game with the Pilots due to injuries he sustained back in UAAP Season 84.

Rivero also briefly played for Blackwater in PBA 3×3.

He will be joined in the Fuel Masters by Raffy Verano, who was the 16th pick.

Verano, who stands at 6-foot-3, played for Ateneo and Pampanga Royce Hotel as well.

Currently, he is averaging 10.9 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 1.9 steals per game in MPBL team Quezon.

Terrafirma selected 6-foot-8 big man Kemark Carino as the 13th overall pick.

After forgoing his senior year with San Beda University two years ago, Carino played for Aomori in the B.League.

He averaged just 1.9 points and 1.8 rebounds for the Wat’s.

Carino then played for Brunei in the Major Basketball League and Zamboanga in the ASEAN Basketball League.

Converge then got Bryan Santos afterward.

Santos was one of Aldin Ayo’s recruits in UST.

Henry Galinato then went 15 to Rain or Shine.

Completing the round are 18th pick Enoch Valdez to NLEX, JL Delos Santos went 19th to Converge, James Kwekuteye dropped to 20 and going to Blackwater, Jhan Nermal went to NLEX at 21, Louie Sangalang ended up at Terrafirma at 22, Ralph Cu remained at Ginebra, while Rain or Shine closed the round with Adrian Nocum.

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