Taoyuan releases Ricci Rivero due to injury one week before season start

MANILA, Philippines – In an unfortunate turn of events, Ricci Rivero’s professional basketball debut will have to wait a bit longer as he and the Taoyuan Pilots of Taiwan’s P. League+ have agreed to a mutual contract termination due to an unspecified injury on Friday, November 4.

“[General Manager] Sean Chen said it was a hard decision. He considers Ricci a very skilled player with a great attitude. However, due to his injury, Ricci wouldn’t be able to compete at his best level for the upcoming regular season games,” read a team release.

“Ricci joined the team in September. His past injury [made] him unable to show his best performance during training and preseason games. Wishing you the best Ricci! Good luck,” the statement concluded.

Taoyuan’s season begins on Saturday, November 12.

Rivero was coming off a memorable end to his collegiate career after helping the UP Fighting Maroons clinch their first UAAP title since 1986 off a thrilling three-game finals series against the Ateneo Blue Eagles.

Likely the only modern-era UAAP player who won two championships for two different schools, the former La Salle stalwart finished his fifth and final season with elimination round averages of 13.1 points, 4.1 rebounds, 2.2 assists, and 1.3 steals. – Rappler.com