Inside Ricci Rivero

Ricci Rivero shrugged off the gruesome cut he suffered in his left hand that caused him to miss the final stretch of Phoenix’s eventual victory over TNT in a thrilling PBA Season 50 Commissioner’s Cup affair on Labor Day. Ricci Rivero has emerged this Saturday as one of the stories drawing attention in Philippines.

Key facts

• Ricci Rivero shrugged off the gruesome cut he suffered in his left hand that caused him to miss the final stretch of Phoenix’s eventual victory over TNT in a thrilling PBA Season 50 Commissioner’s Cup affair on Labor Day.
• Rivero had to sit out the final 16.9 seconds of the tightly contested ball game after sustaining a deep wound off a foul by Jayson Castro to stop the clock.
• Rivero and the rest of the squad could only heave a sigh of relief as they managed to overcome the odds, tallying their sixth win in the process–and securing, as well, a solid bounce-back after getting beaten by Converge.
• Parang wala namang bali–hopefully,” he said after their 100-97 overtime win that treated the crowd that filled the SMART Araneta Coliseum.
• That cut short as well what had been a stellar night for the 27-year-old, who tallied 31 points and 11 rebounds alongside four assists and three steals.

What we know

Going deeper, Rivero had to sit out the final 16.9 seconds of the tightly contested ball game after sustaining a deep wound off a foul by Jayson Castro to stop the clock.

On the substance, Rivero and the rest of the squad could only heave a sigh of relief as they managed to overcome the odds, tallying their sixth win in the process–and securing, as well, a solid bounce-back after getting beaten by Converge.

Beyond the headlines, Parang wala namang bali–hopefully,” he said after their 100-97 overtime win that treated the crowd that filled the SMART Araneta Coliseum.

More precisely, that cut short as well what had been a stellar night for the 27-year-old, who tallied 31 points and 11 rebounds alongside four assists and three steals.

It is worth noting that But the good thing was that he’d already inflicted damage to the Tropang 5G, having knocked down a crucial trey for the 96-95 lead with 39.6 seconds left.

By the numbers

At this stage, his absence on the floor cast a cloud of anxiety as the Fuel Masters lost their lead guard, but the others willingly took the cudgels, with Tyler Tio banking in the marginal three-pointer to break the 97-all knot with 1.8 seconds.

On a related note, Now at 6-4, Phoenix will look to sweep its last two games of the preliminaries against guest team Macau on May 6 and San Miguel Beer on the 9th.

Going deeper, Adamson takes third seed, NU completes UAAP Men’s 3×3 semis cast after tight tiebreak scenario.

On the substance, NUNS stuns FEU-D, punches final ticket to UAAP 19U 3×3 semis.

What they're saying

“From this side hanggang dito sa kabila, napunit. ‘Yung ring and the middle finger, medyo naghiwalay,” he described when asked about the severity of his injury.

“Thank you, Coach Charles (Tiu), for giving me the trust to get the ball and take over and make the right plays, specifically not for me but for the team,” he said,.

The wider context

On a related note, Abra-Solid North’s 48-game MPBL streak on the line as San Juan brings celebrated core.

Going deeper, UE shines in UAAP Season 86 opening spectacle ‘Panunumbalik sa Sinimulan’.

On the substance, Aurora Gaming PH claims M7 crown with 4–0 finals domination.

Beyond the headlines, Alter Ego stuns Team Liquid, ends ‘golden road’ Dream at M7.

More precisely, Team Liquid PH secures top-four finish in M7 after win over Aurora Gaming.

The bottom line

• That cut short as well what had been a stellar night for the 27-year-old, who tallied 31 points and 11 rebounds alongside four assists and three steals.
• His absence on the floor cast a cloud of anxiety as the Fuel Masters lost their lead guard, but the others willingly took the cudgels, with Tyler Tio banking in the marginal three-pointer to break the 97-all knot with 1.8 seconds.
• Aurora storms in M7 grand finals after comeback vs Selangor.