When the going got tough for University of the Philippines, Ricci Rivero demonstrated why he has grown as one of the team’s leaders in the UAAP Season 84 Men’s Basketball Tournament.
With the game on the line with less than 30 seconds remaining on the clock, Rivero drove to the rim. He then successfully fished for a foul against Ateneo de Manila University
The Isabela native converted two free throws to give his team an 84-83 edge, which won the Fighting Maroons the match. It also gave the Blue Eagles their first loss in 39 matches.
“I’m just so happy and I feel so blessed to be able to represent the community that supports us wholeheartedly and is able to play within Coach Gold [Monteverde’s] system,” said Rivero.
“It’s such an honor for me to gain so much from him, the coaching staff, from my teammates. They’ve been a big part of my career, especially in my last playing year.”
When the final buzzer sounded after Malik Diouf missed two late free throws, jubilation erupted amongst the UP team and its supporters.
Despite their star-studded lineup, the Fighting Maroons’ victory over the Blue Eagles is considered an upset. After all, many consider coach Tab Baldwin’s system to be unbeatable.
“I’m just so happy,” added the 23-year-old senior. “We are seeing what the team is capable of. And we basically showed that this UP team is something else as long as we listen to the coaches, stick to our game plans, stick to the system, and trust our teammates.”
As for Rivero, he will be celebrated as one of the heroes for UP in the contest. It is not easy to execute properly during a tension-filled situation, but he did his job well.
For that – he is just thankful to God.
“Dun naman sa free throws, I’m just thankful siguro kay Papa Jesus kase Siya naman nag-guide sa akin throughout the game, throughout the whole team,” said the UAAP Season 79 Champion.
“We’ve been practicing that. In-offer ko naman sa Kanya yung two shots na yun, so it’s all Him. That wasn’t on me. Ako lang yun nagamit Niya siguro, instrument to make those shots. Yun lang po.”
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