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La Salle's Ricci Rivero believes Ateneo's triumph is God's will

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Camille B. Naredo, ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2017/sports/12/04/dlsu.jpg"/><figcaption>La Salle&#x27;s Ricci Rivero (6) comforts his older brother, Prince, following their loss to Ateneo in the UAAP Season 80 finals. Josh Albelda, <a href="https://sports.abs-cbn.com/uaap/basketball/photos">ABS-CBN Sports</a></figcaption></figure></div>MANILA, Philippines – When Ricci Rivero overcame foul trouble and his own emotions during De La Salle University&#x27;s epic comeback in Game 2 of the UAAP Season 80 Finals against Ateneo de Manila University, he turned to a higher power to explain his performance.&quot;Noong second half siguro, it wasn&#x27;t me who played. Siguro it was God,&quot; Rivero mused after scoring 12 of his 18 points in the second half to help the Green Archers to a 92-83 win, which forced a do-or-die game against the Blue Eagles.In the wake of a bitter defeat to their archrivals in that deciding game, Rivero again turned a higher power in search of explanation and comfort at the end of their campaign.&quot;Will ni God na manalo sila,&quot; Rivero said following Ateneo&#x27;s 88-86 triumph that gave them the UAAP Season 80 title. &quot;In-offer naman namin sa Kanya.&quot;&quot;Hindi kami nag-pray na sana manalo,&quot; he revealed. &quot;Nag-pray kami na whatever happens, &#x27;yung will ni Papa Jesus &#x27;yung mangyari. I-help niya lang kami sa situations na nahihirapan kami.&quot;<ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://sports.abs-cbn.com/uaap/news/2017/12/03/vacant-ust-post-far-mind-coach-aldin-34308">READ: Vacant UST post far from the mind of coach Aldin</a></li></ul>Rivero again struggled with foul trouble in Game 3, while also accounting for seven of La Salle&#x27;s 18 turnovers. He did have 14 points – including his usual crowd-pleasing lay-ups and a dunk – but shot only five-of-15 from the field, including only one of six from beyond the arc.<figure class="op-interactive"><iframe height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/8gTqzbIqJ6Q?enablejsapi=1" width="560"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more in <a href="~//www.iwantv.com.ph/">iWantv</a> or <a href="~//tfc.tv/">TFC.tv</a></div>He was not the only Green Archer to struggle from the field. Aljun Melecio made six of 18 shots, and Andrei Caracut was four-of-13. Indeed, La Salle&#x27;s backcourt struggled to find their range throughout the game, making only eight of 33 three-pointers.Still, Rivero stressed that they gave all that they had in Game 3. Indeed, La Salle came close to completing yet another comeback, trimming a 10-point deficit to just two-points, 80-82, before Ateneo&#x27;s Isaac Go knocked down a clutch three-pointer with 24 seconds to go.&quot;Siguro, nagkulang kami throughout the process,&quot; Rivero said as he reflected on their campaign. &quot;Siguro, nag-lack kami on something na ginawa namin.&quot;&quot;Siguro, kumbaga, parang may road na minsan, nagi-stop over kami, instead of pushing through,&quot; he explained. &quot;Kahit kaya namin, nagi-stop kami.&quot;Nevertheless, Rivero believes the Green Archers should feel no shame at losing to Ateneo in a remarkable finals series, which went the full route and was not decided until the last minute.&quot;I&#x27;m always proud of my teammates,&quot; said Rivero, who comforted his older brother, Prince, after they received their silver medals. &quot;Magkakasama kami throughout the year, sa lahat ng hirap.&quot;&quot;Alam ko kung ginagawa nila &#x27;yung tama or what at this point. We gave everything naman,&quot; he added.&quot;Siguro, they are more deserving than us.&quot;For more sports coverage, visit the <a href="http://sports.abs-cbn.com/">ABS-CBN Sports website</a>.

La Salle's Ricci Rivero believes Ateneo's triumph is God's will

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La Salle's Ricci Rivero believes Ateneo's triumph is God's will

Camille B. Naredo,

ABS-CBN News

Published December 04, 2017 11:48 AM PHT

Read More:

UAAP

Ateneo Blue Eagles

De La Salle Green Archers

Ricci Rivero

basketball

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