Ricci Rivero

Ricci Paolo Uy Rivero (; born May 25, 1998) is a Filipino professional basketball player for the Phoenix Super LPG Fuel Masters of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA). Rivero played for the De La Salle Green Archers in his first two years in collegiate basketball. His breakout performance in the UAAP Season 80 men's basketball tournament earned him a spot in the Mythical Five and the Most Improved Player award.

In April 2018, Rivero announced that he had left the De La Salle Green Archers to focus on Gilas Pilipinas. In May 2018, it was revealed that Rivero had transferred to be part of the University of the Philippines (UP) Fighting Maroons. Rivero suited up in UP starting season 82 of the UAAP.

He is also an actor who first featured in the MMFF film Otlum. He is of Chinese descent through his mother.

He moved to Manila to complete his secondary education at La Salle Green Hills in Mandaluyong. In 2015, his final year of high school, he averaged 25.4 points, 8.8 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 2.4 steals, and 1.9 blocks in the elimination round for the Greenies, but lost to the Arellano Braves in the first round of the playoffs. In 2016, Rivero joined the De La Salle Green Archers.

College career

De La Salle Green Archers In 2016, his rookie season, the Archers won the championship.

In 2017, his sophomore season, Rivero averaged 14.1 points, 5.4 rebounds, 1.9 assists, and 1.7 steals. He led the Archers to the Finals, and earned Mythical Team Honors. He also won the Most Improved Player award. Later, in April, he announced on Twitter that he would exit the team.

UP Fighting Maroons In May 2018, Rivero announced on Twitter that he would be joining the UP Fighting Maroons. He redshirted Season 81 (2018) due to UAAP's eligibility rules.

He played for UP in Season 84, despite getting offers to play overseas in Japan. They won the championship that season.

Professional career On June 24, 2022, Rivero signed with the Taoyuan Pilots of the P. League+. However, he was released before the season started due to an ankle injury.

On February 15, 2023, Rivero signed a short-term deal with the Blackwater Bossing Red President of the PBA 3x3.

In September 2023, Rivero made a bid to enter the Philippine Basketball Association by applying for the PBA season 48 draft,

PBA career statistics

As of the end of 2024–25 season

Season-by-season averages

National team career Rivero first played for the Philippine national team in 2013, when the U16 team swept the SEABA Championships. He was considered for the "23 for 23" pool, a pool of Gilas Cadets for the 2023 FIBA World Cup. However, La Salle requested coach Chot Reyes to not include him in the lineup.

Off the court

Film and TV In 2016, he participated in the finale of Nike Rise Philippines, a reality documentary basketball development program aired on TV5. He went up against Nike's final team along with other UAAP, NCAA and Perlas Pilipinas players. When that show closed, he announced that he would take a break from acting to focus on his studies and basketball.

Endorsements Rivero is a very popular athlete, as he was named the "Most Tweeted and Most Talked-About Filipino Athlete" by Twitter Philippines. He is an endorser for numerous companies such as Honda, Globe, Gatorade, Nike, and many more.

In 2021, he appeared in a Pepsi ad that was shown in Times Square, N.Y.C.

Filmography

Television Year Title Role Notes Ref. 2021 Gen Z Migo Main Lead

Film Year Title Role Notes Ref. 2018 Otlum Dindo Main Cast 2021 Happy Times Kim Main Lead 2021 Rabid Reggie Main Cast 2022 Day Zero Paolo Main Cast

Personal life On April 9, 2022, Rivero confirmed that he was officially in a relationship with actress Andrea Brillantes. Their relationship lasted a little over a year before he announced on Twitter that they had split. On October 22, 2023, Rivero confirmed that he is in a relationship with beauty queen and politician Leren Bautista.

Before the start of UAAP Season 84, he pledged ₱250 to the UP Ikot Drivers Association who had been hit hard by the pandemic, for every point he scored. He was able to raise ₱154,200, and other supporters rounded out the donations to a total of ₱200,000.