Ricci Rivero, a basketball player and actor, can’t believe he’s topped Google Philippines’ list of most-searched male and female personalities for 2022.

Ricci’s first reaction when hearing the news was “fake news,” because international celebrities such as Johnny Depp (No. 2), Chris Rock (No. 5), Andrew Garfield (No. 9), and Adam Levine (No. 10) were on the list.

Korean actors Park Solomon (All of Us Are Dead, No. 3) and Ahn Hyo-seop (Business Proposal, No. 7) are also on the list, as is Bella Poarch’s husband, Tyler Poarch (No. 4), and Ricci’s fellow basketball stars Juancho Hernangomez (No. 6) and Jordan Clarkson (No. 7).

Ricci is the list’s sole native Filipino.

Because of the news reports that appeared, Ricci became convinced that the news was true, and the number of people tagging him with news links grew.

“2022 indeed is a memorable year for my basketball career and personal life,” Ricci said in the Cabinet Files about his “surprise inclusion” in Google Philippines’ Most Searched Personalities list.

“I am both surprised and humbled that a lot has been with me in my journeys thru Google Search. Kung ano man po ang dahilan ng inyong pagsubaybay, paghanga man o pagpuna, maraming salamat po sa oras na inyong binigay.

“Looking forward for a better 2023 for me and for all of us.”

This is reinforced by the public’s unique interest, which does not cease to express opinions and reactions about his relationship with actress Andrea Brillantes.

Ricci’s profession is basketball, but he is currently recovering from an injury that caused him to be released from his contract with the Taoyuan Pilots of Taiwan’s P.League, the men’s professional basketball league.

Ricci is very likely to continue his showbiz career, and while he is unable to play basketball at the moment, he is fulfilling his brand endorsement obligations.