Photo Credit to @ricciiirivero on Instagram
With his ex-girlfriend Andrea Brillantes’s name being mentioned as one of the reasons for Daniel Padilla and Kathryn Bernardo’s recent public breakup, athlete-actor Ricci Rivero said he wants to stay out of the issue, after having his former relationship being scrutinized by netizens for most of last year.
“No comment na po. Wala po. Wala akong anything sa kahit na sino. Ako naman, ang importante lang sa akin is okay yung family ko, wala kaming hate sa kahit ano man. Yung sa akin ay, nasaktan man kami, sila, si Leren (Mae Bautista, his current girlfriend), yung family niya, gusto lang is siyempre makilala sila ng tao kung sino sila. Kung anong sabihin sa akin, medyo kaya kong tanggapin pero siyempre dun sa mga loved ones natin mahirap,” he told the press during the Zion event held last January 12 in Pasay City.
After getting accused of cheating in his previous relationship, Ricci wanted to clarify for the last time that his current relationship with beauty queen-turned-councilor Leren Mae Bautista did not overlap with his relationship Andrea before they broke up in May 2023.
“Yeah, everyone knows dun sa buong circle namin. Wala pong overlapping,” he said.
Despite all the backlash and online hate he received, Ricci said he has no ill-feelings towards anybody.
“Pero wala naman sa akin. Hindi ako nagtanim ng sama ng loob sa kahit na sino. Kasi yung sa akin naman, we know what’s true, we know what’s right from wrong, and we know God will always make a way for the people who follows. Kasi sa akin naman, mas ano talaga yung bond ng family, yung core namin is talagang we know na hangga’t nasa tama naman and maayos naman, God will find a way to help us din through all the storms. Kasi lahat naman yan hindi niya ibibigay sa atin without Him knowing na kaya natin lagpasan yan. So lahat yun obstacles lang and I’m just glad na ngayn happy yung family, maayos kami, healthy. Yun naman yung gusto naming lahat, healthy ka,” he added.
Although he admitted he and his ex-girlfriend have not seen or communicated with each other since their breakup, Ricci said he thinks that things are better this way after everything that has happened.
“Uhhh…. (laughs). Hindi po (kami nagkausap). Siguro (better yun),” he admitted.
For 2024, he looks forward to having a more peaceful life and relationship. “My basketball career is fun. It’s been going smoothly and so far, so good. I’m just trying to be happy. Self-love din. Love for my family, my loved ones, my partner, and also siyempre I’m keeping myself healthy by practicing everyday sa basketball and using my Zion sauna,” he said.
After going public with his relationship with Leren last October, Ricci has been vocal about who he now sees as his “real queen.”
The national basketball team player wrote in a previous social media post, “To the girl who I see as a real QUEEN 👑 With all the wrongs hounding me, I’m blessed to have found the right one. Allow me to shield you from things you don’t deserve. Hindi tayo magtatago dahil walang dapat ikahiya. Walang nang agaw at walang inagaw. Walang bibitaw dahil masaya tayong magka hawak kamay. I love seeing how you genuinely continue to help and care for people every day despite others trying to ruin your reputation. Rest assured I will be with you in inspiring people to always be better. Thank you for being so selfless and simple.”
