Ricci Rivero, a basketball player and actor, flew to Taiwan yesterday, September 19, 2022.

He will begin his career with the Taoyuan Pilots of the PLeague, Taiwan’s professional basketball league.

Ricci will not be in the Philippines for 10 months as part of a new chapter in his life as a basketball player.

His training with the Taoyuan Pilots will begin after the Filipino athlete has completed the obligatory 7-day quarantine.

Ricci was sent off at Ninoy Aquino International Airport by his family. They intend to visit Taiwan next and witness the actor-basketball player’s games once the country’s COVID protocols are loosened.

“I know that the adjustment of moving away from my home country will be difficult but with the support of over 150,000 Filipinos working and living there, I believe I won’t feel alone,” Ricci stated this before boarding the jet that would take him to Taiwan.

He continued, “Humuhugot po ako ng lakas ng loob mula sa mga Pilipino na matagal din nagtatrabaho sa ibang bansa para sa kanilang mga pamilya. Sila po ang inspirasyon ko.

“Gagawin ko po ito para rin sa aking pangarap. Hihingi na lang po ako ng dasal at suporta.

“Hindi po magiging madali ang susubukan kong karera. Hihingi po ako ng tulong ninyo. Maraming salamat po.

“See you in our games, please support me and my Team Taoyuan Pilots.”

For those wondering why Ricci’s girlfriend, Andrea Brillantes, was not brought to the airport, the actress is now in Thailand on business.

For ten months, their romance was classified as a long-distance relationship, which officially began in April 2022.