PBA hopeful Ricci Rivero expressed his excitement in finally making the leap to the big league after his previous attempt to play as an import overseas was cut short by an injury.

The 25-year-old guard out of University of the Philippines believes that it's high time for him to join the pro ranks, especially that playing in the PBA has always been the goal for him ever since.

“PBA naman kasi talaga yung target ever since nagkaroon lang rin naman talaga ng opportunities yung mga Filipinos to showcase our talents,” said Rivero who was supposed to play for the Taoyuan Pilots in the Taiwan’s P.League+.

The stint, however, was cut even before it began as Rivero suffered an injury during one of the team’s training – something that he took as a sign to just revert back to the original plan of joining the PBA.

“I’m big with the signs so when I went there yun yung napag usapan namin, kasi mas kailangan nila yung makakapaglaro agad and during naman sa stay ko, dun naman ako naiinjured,” he recalled.

“Dun kami nag meet pareho ng management, sa team, na uuwi na lang muna para mas makapag focus sa rehab instead of staying pero di naman ako magagamit agad,” he added.

A projected first rounder in the deep draft, Rivero said he is ready to play in any system that he would fit and he’s just happy to be finally at the doorstep of the big league.

“Ito rin naman yung target from the very beginning so I'm just happy I'm right here now. Excited lang ako kasi ito naman yung target ng mga pilipino talaga ever since growing up diba,” he shared.