Philippine standout collegiate basketball player Ricci Rivero has said that he draws inspiration from overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) as he adjusts to life in Taiwan, suiting up to be the first-ever Southeast Asian player in the professional P. LEAGUE+.
“They (OFWs) are very important because they give a lot back to our country and they also help their families as well,” the 24-year-old Rivero told CNA Thursday at a training facility in Taoyuan, where he plays as a world import player for his new team, the Taoyuan Pauian Pilots.
Taiwan’s other professional basketball league, the T1 LEAGUE, has already had around eight Southeast Asian players or players of Southeast Asian heritage, including those from the Philippines and Thailand, play in the last season, but there is still much excitement over Rivero as he is the first Southeast Asian player recruited by the P. LEAGUE+.
Having just arrived in Taiwan a few weeks ago, the two-time University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) champion said he appreciated the sacrifices of OFWs, as he could relate to the difficulties of working abroad, away from family and loved ones.
“For me, yes, it’s quite hard, especially when you’re new,” Rivero said. “But it’s the sacrifice we do for our families, ourselves and our country.”
There are 149,941 Filipino migrant workers in Taiwan, according to the Ministry of Labor’s latest data, updated at the end of August. Many of them work in factories manufacturing products that Taiwan exports, while others work in the fishing or service industries, or as elderly care givers.
Rivero said he hopes to interact with and meet more Filipinos in Taiwan, partly to learn more about what things to try and sights to see.
Filipinos on social media have been welcoming him, answering his questions, such as where to go to buy Filipino groceries, Rivero said, adding that he also hopes they will come to the Pilots’ games in the upcoming P. LEAGUE+ 2022-2023 season, which starts in November.
He said he will be more than thankful if Filipinos support him, his team, and the league.
“We feel the love and support when they show up just to be able to see us, support us, and shout for us. It’s something we feel grateful (for),” Rivero said.
However, Rivero admitted he also feels the pressure to perform well as he is the P. LEAGUE+’s first Southeast Asian player.
Hailing from Ilagan city in the Philippine province of Isabela, Rivero is the only UAAP player to have won championships with two different schools, after helping the University of the Philippines in May to clinch its first championship since 1986.
In addition to his performance on the court, Rivero’s philanthropy has also generated headlines.
A week after winning the UAAP title in May, Rivero donated over 200,000 Philippine pesos (US$3,397) to jeepney drivers in the University of the Philippines who were gravely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, according to Filipino media ABS-CBN.
When asked what plans the Pilots had in store for Rivero, the team’s head coach Iurgi Caminos told CNA that they still needed more time to evaluate the college standout’s performance at the professional level.
“He came (about) two weeks ago, so, we are still trying to evaluate how good he can be for the team. It’s something we need a little bit more time to really have a clear vision of,” the Spanish coach said.
Pilots General Manager Sean Chen (陳信安), a former Taiwanese professional basketball player, told CNA that Rivero has an amazing Eurostep, but there is much more in the professional league that he needs to master, such as physical strength and accuracy.
“He has great positive factors, but he needs to prove it on the court. This is something that all professional players need to go through; its unavoidable,” Chen said.
Before the upcoming regular season starts next month, a round of pre-season games will be held at Kaohsiung Fengshan Stadium over the Double Ten National Day long weekend.
The Pilots will play the central Taiwan-based Formosa Taishin Dreamers on Sunday, followed by the New Taipei Kings on Monday.
Many fans, including Rivero’s compatriots, will be excited to see how he performs and some will likely spend their day off cheering for him.
Source: Focus Taiwan News Channel
