Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
When Yeng Guiao made the final cut for his team that will fly to Indonesia for the Asian Games, it was almost expected that youngsters Kobe Paras and Ricci Rivero would be the ones who won’t be included in the lineup.
Rivero and Paras were part of the 14-man pool that Guiao chose but were ultimately left out in favor of the PBA veterans already familiar with the coach’s basketball system.
The exclusion, however, did not mean that Guiao did not see any potential from the 20-year-old Rivero.
“I’m really impressed with Ricci’s talent and skills, he almost made it to the team,” said Guiao Friday at Meralco Gym after the team’s practice. “I told Ricci that I’m impressed with what he can do.”
Rivero, who’s a one-time UAAP champion when he was still with De La Salle, recently transferred to University of the Philippines where he will utilize UAAP’s 81st season as his residency year in Diliman.
With a whole year of worth of UAAP break before the 82nd season, Rivero got an invite from Guiao to train for him with NLEX.
“I know he’s not playing this year, but I know he’s practicing, but if he wants to practice at a different level NLEX practice is open to him,” said Guiao, who will also gear up for the PBA Governors’ Cup.
Rivero, who was thankful that he was invited to be part of the pool in the first place, said he was able to improve his game in the almost two weeks he was with Guiao.
“I see coach Yeng as someone who’s really good at developing players and in a short time I’ve learned so much from him,” said Rivero in Filipino. “And hearing him say that he was impressed with me, for a college player I’m just really thankful for this opportunity.”