Ricci Rivero to suit up for P. League+ team in Taiwan

MANILA, Philippines – From Diliman to Taiwan.

University of the Philippines stalwart Ricci Rivero is taking his talents to the Taoyuan Pilots in the P. League+ of Taiwan after helping the Maroons end a 36-year title drought in the UAAP.

Charlie Dy, Rivero’s agent, on Friday confirmed the development on the prized cager’s career who will serve as a world import in the Taiwanese league starting this season.

“Yes, Ricci signed with Taoyuan for one season,” Dy told The STAR.

Rivero came off a stellar last hurrah in the UAAP with averages of 13.8 points, 4.2 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.7 steals for UP, which toppled Ateneo in the finals for its first title since 1986.

His heroics for Diliman included a charity cause dubbed as “Buckets of Hope” that transformed his every point (257) to cash for a total of P200,00 for the benefit of UP Ikot jeepney drivers affected by the pandemic.

Now, Rivero is hoping to stamp the same performance with the Pilots team that finished with a 7-22 record last season.

Rivero followed the steps of other UAAP standouts in SJ Belangel (Korea), RJ Abarrientos (Korea) and Justine Baltazar (Japan), who have also taken their acts overseas after Season 84.

Other collegiate standouts that trooped abroad as early as last year were Thirdy Ravena, Kobe Paras, Juan and Javi Gomez de Liano, Kemark Cariño and Dwight Ramos in Japan.

Javi, however, has come home since and got drafted in the PBA last month by Barangay Ginebra before being traded to Terrafirma.