Taoyuan Pilots let go of Ricci Rivero after injury scare

Ricci Rivero is no longer with Taoyuan. UAAP Season 84 Media Team (file photo)

By Ivan Saldajeno

QUEZON CITY--The Taoyuan Pilots have decided to release Filipino reinforcement Ricci Rivero even before the P.League+ regular season begins.

In a statement on Friday, Taoyuan said that General Manager Sean Chen finds the waiver "a hard decision" that had to be made due to Rivero's injury.

"GM Sean Chen said it was a hard decision. He considers Ricci a very skilled player with a great attitude. However, due to his injury, Ricci wouldn't be able to compete at his best level for the upcoming regular season game," the Pilots said. "His past injury led him unable to show his best performance during the training and preseason games."

The team did not disclose the specifics of the said injury, but they also said that there was no bad blood between both camps.

"[The] Taoyuan Pauian Pilots announced today that with mutual consents, the contract between [the] Pilots and Ricci Rivero is terminated today," the statement further reads.

The high-flying former La Salle and University of the Philippines star had nine points and eight assists in what would be his only game with Taoyuan, a preseason clash against Formosa.

The P.League+ season will commence on Saturday, but the Pilots will only begin their campaign next week with a match against the New Taipei Kings that would start a five-game road trip.

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