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UAAP: In first practice with UP, Ricci Rivero looks to fit in

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Camille B. Naredo, ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2018/tvpatrol/05/29/ricci.jpg"/><figcaption>It was hot inside the UP basketball gym during his first practice with the Fighting Maroons but new recruit Ricci Rivero, who is savoring his new surroundings at Diliman, is far from complaining. Camille B. Naredo, ABS-CBN News</figcaption></figure></div>MANILA, Philippines – Ricci Rivero needed to change shirts midway through his first practice with the University of the Philippines on Tuesday evening.He sweated through one shirt after running through basic drills for an hour with his new teammates, and then drenched another after a more exhausting stretch that saw the Fighting Maroons go through some of their fundamental sets.Afterward, Rivero bent over in front of a huge electric fan at the UP College of Human Kinetics Gym, panting.&quot;Para akong nasa oven,&quot; he said.Don&#x27;t get him wrong; Rivero is not complaining. If anything, he is grateful to be there, in the sweltering hot gym, where he can finally practice with the team that he chose to join upon his departure from De La Salle University.He just needs to get used to his new environment, including the rims at the gym. Rivero clanked jumper after jumper in the early part of their practice, and adjusted afterward by choosing to bank in his attempts. During their 5-on-5 drills, Rivero barely even took a shot, choosing instead to make plays for his new teammates.&quot;OK naman, actually,&quot; he said of his first practice with the Fighting Maroons. &quot;I think OK naman &#x27;yung system, &#x27;yung mga coaches. Feel ko makakatulong sila ng sobra sa akin. I think I&#x27;m gonna learn a lot from them, from my teammates.&quot;For the past couple of months, Rivero has been practicing with the Gilas Pilipinas Cadets and competing with them in the FilOil Flying V Preseason Cup. But following his decision to transfer to UP, Rivero&#x27;s path forward has become clearer.He will take a year off to serve his residency, before suiting up for the Fighting Maroons in Season 81. Rivero is confident he will have enough time to master the system used by coach Bo Perasol while also developing chemistry with his new teammates.Chances are that by the time Season 81 rolls around, Rivero will have established himself as a star for UP, the same way he earned that distinction in La Salle. Amid all the drama that surrounded his exit from the Green Archers, it cannot be forgotten that Rivero was a Mythical Team selection in Season 80, and the second-best player on a team that came one win short of a championship.On Tuesday night, however, thoughts of stardom or Mythical Team selections were the farthest on Rivero&#x27;s mind. Instead, he simply wanted to fit in with his new team, to adjust to his new teammates and coaches.&quot;Hindi ko pa naman talaga tinry to find my own shot,&quot; he said. &quot;Tinitingnan ko lang how my teammates will react on how I play.&quot;&quot;Hindi ko talaga iniisip kung magfi-fit ba ako sa offense or whatsoever. Gusto ko mag-fit ako, ako &#x27;yung mag-a-adjust for them,&quot; he stressed.&quot;Kasi this isn&#x27;t my team naman. Pumunta ako dito, buo na sila. So gusto ko mag-adjust ako sa kanila.&quot;Right now, he simply wants to get used to playing with UP. &quot;Hindi lang talaga ako sanay sa regular training pa,&quot; he admitted. &quot;Pero I think we&#x27;ll get there.&quot;&quot;This is going to help me a lot,&quot; he adds. &quot;Siyempre I need to be in the right shape. &#x27;Yun lang, I think, ang kailangan ko as of now. And then siguro, try ko gawing second nature &#x27;yung system.&quot;<div>For more sports coverage, visit the <a href="http://sports.abs-cbn.com">ABS-CBN Sports website</a>.</div>

Scrimmaging with his new team, Rivero knows it’s on him to adjust to his teammates and to the Fighting Maroons system.

Scrimmaging with his new team, Rivero knows it’s on him to adjust to his teammates and to the Fighting Maroons system.

UAAP: In first practice with UP, Ricci Rivero looks to fit in

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UAAP: In first practice with UP, Ricci Rivero looks to fit in

Camille B. Naredo,

ABS-CBN News

Published May 29, 2018 09:45 PM PHT

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Updated May 29, 2018 09:46 PM PHT

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UAAP

UP Fighting Maroons

Ricci Rivero

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