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Guiao impressed with Ricci Rivero: 'He can play at this level'

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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/sports/11/19/20181119-ricci2.jpg"/><figcaption>Ricci Rivero wowed the crowd at Meralco Gym on Monday night with his trademark side-stepping lay-up, and showed no fear in driving against the big men of Jordan and fishing for fouls. Richard Esguerra, ABS-CBN Sports</figcaption></figure></div>MANILA, Philippines -- Playing limited minutes in the second quarter, Ricci Rivero did enough to impress coach Yeng Guiao in his first game for the Philippine men&#x27;s national basketball team.One of the youngest members of the national team pool, Rivero saw action in Gilas Pilipinas&#x27; tune-up game against Jordan on Monday night. He entered late in the second quarter, and showed flashes of the talent that compelled Guiao to put him in the pool in the first place.He wowed the crowd at the Meralco Gym with his trademark side-stepping lay-up, and showed no fear in driving against the big men of Jordan and fishing for fouls. Rivero finished with four points in the Philippines&#x27; 98-92 loss.&quot;Masaya kasi ayun nga, I&#x27;m getting to play alongside my kuyas, to play under Coach Yeng, Coach Ryan (Gregorio), and Coach Caloy (Garcia),&quot; Rivero said after the game. &quot;Sobrang achievement na siya for me.&quot;<ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/11/20/18/yeng-guiao-takes-the-good-with-the-bad-in-first-gilas-pilipinas-tune-up">Yeng Guiao takes the good with the bad in first Gilas Pilipinas tune-up</a></li>	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/11/19/18/fiba-world-cup-qualifiers-gilas-bows-to-jordan-in-first-tune-up-game">&#x27;A little bit rusty&#x27;: Gilas bows to Jordan in first tune-up game</a></li></ul>&quot;Maging part lang ng pool na ito, sobrang happy na ako,&quot; he added.Rivero acknowledged that his debut was &quot;nothing super special,&quot; but he was delighted to have contributed, even a little, to the national team&#x27;s cause.&quot;May nagawa rin ako para sa game,&quot; he said.Indeed, Rivero did enough to catch the attention of Guiao.&quot;Actually, he was able to prove that his play is at the level of the guys here,&quot; the national team coach said of Rivero, a former UAAP Mythical Team member when he was at De La Salle University.&quot;He could have performed better; I felt he was fouled in a few situations where he could have contributed a little bit more,&quot; Guiao added. &quot;But he&#x27;s proven that he can play at this level, although he&#x27;s playing in college.&quot;&quot;He can play at this level,&quot; he stressed.It remains to be seen whether Rivero will play again on Wednesday, when Gilas Pilipinas takes on Jordan once more in another tune-up game. Expected to see action in that contest are the players from Barangay Ginebra, who observed on Monday at the sidelines.Rivero was not too worried about his participation on Wednesday&#x27;s game, however, as he cherished the experience that he got on Monday night.&quot;Iniisip ko kanina, &#x27;Lord, ikaw na bahala sa akin, kung anong makakabuti&#x27;. Ganoon naman ako palagi,&quot; he said. &quot;If maging masama &#x27;yung nangyari, baka lesson siya for me. Pero if maging maganda naman, blessing siya for me.&quot;&quot;I think naging OK naman &#x27;yung kanina,&quot; he said.<div>For more sports coverage, visit the <a href="http://sports.abs-cbn.com" target="_blank">ABS-CBN Sports website.</a></div>

MANILA, Philippines -- Playing limited minutes in the second quarter, Ricci Rivero did enough to impress coach Yeng Guiao in his first game for the Philippine men's national basketball team.

MANILA, Philippines -- Playing limited minutes in the second quarter, Ricci Rivero did enough to impress coach Yeng Guiao in his first game for the Philippine men's national basketball team.

Guiao impressed with Ricci Rivero: 'He can play at this level'

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Guiao impressed with Ricci Rivero: 'He can play at this level'

Camille B. Naredo,

ABS-CBN News

Published Nov 20, 2018 02:41 AM PHT

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Updated Nov 20, 2018 03:09 AM PHT

Read More:

2019 FIBA World Cup

2019 FIBA World Cup qualifiers

Gilas Pilipinas

Yeng Guiao

Ricci Rivero

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