Ricci Rivero will have plenty of chances to represent the country in the future.
Once upon a time, Ricci Rivero was one of the top young guns in Philippine basketball.
The high-flying, side-stepping guard-forward turned heads with his highlight plays in the UAAP and the FIBA 3x3 scene.
Just look at his reels in his final season in the UAAP with the UP Fighting Maroons and the half-court stage.
But the noticeable part here is these highlight packages are old.
That’s because Rivero has yet to play this level of basketball since his botched stint in Taiwan in 2022 due to an injury.
Since then, Rivero’s basketball career has taken a step back.
One might say that his hiatus from professional play axed his chances of playing for the national team.
Rivero, in an interview with former PBA commissioner Noli Eala, admitted he regrets missing the chance to be part of the Gilas Pilipinas lineup for the FIBA World Cup.
“Ako po opo kasi syempre, ‘yun ‘yung pinaka-target ko.
Pinaka-goal ng isang athlete to represent their country,” Rivero said on Radyo5’s Power and Play.
“That basically means they’re one of the best of the bests. May tiwala sa’yo yung coaches, yung system na ito lalaban ito para sa bansa.”
It has been a while since Rivero donned the Pilipinas blue, although he keeps a positive take on how things unfolded.The 25 years old throws his full support for the squad led by Jordan Clarkson.
“Siguro God’s plan na ito ‘yung nangyari. Alam ko naman lahat ng nakapaglaro and maglalaro sa [FIBA] World Cup, deserving naman. I’m happy for everybody.”