ICYMI: Ricci Rivero finally broke his silence on his highly-publicized breakup with Andrea Brillantes. In his Fast Talk with Boy Abunda interview, the basketball player revealed the reason behind wanting to clear his name. "Umabot na po sa point na yung parents ko po, nasisigawan na sa mall o sa public areas, 'Yung anak niyo cheater!'"
He added: "Kung ako kaya kong tanggapin kasi alam ko naman na hindi totoo."
"Pero kapag sa family ko, siguro it’s time to step up and kailangan ko silang protektahan sa mga issues na meron. Ako, okay lang, pero 'wag yung pamilya ko."
The 25-year-old athlete also clarified the timeline of his breakup with Andrea, noting that they mutually agreed to have a "cool-off" on April 2023. "Tapos yung breakup was first week of May talaga," he shared.
In the interview, Ricci also revealed the cause of their split: "...Yung speculations na kumakalat sa social media na may nakita siyang girl dun sa place ko."
"Pero ilang beses po naman naming pinag-usapan ito. Sobrang daming beses. Sinabi ko sa kanya with all the evidences I have na hindi sa akin yung girl. May papuntang friend ako [nung] midnight tapos hindi ko naman alam na may kasama siya. Yun ang inabutan niya [Andrea]."
Despite their highly-publicized breakup, the basketball star revealed that he's still on good terms with the Gen Z actress.
"Nagkikita pa rin [kami] kasi maayos talaga yung breakup namin. Naiintindihan niya. Alam niya na hindi ko ginawa yung sa breakup lamang."
He also made sure to answer the accusations being hurled at him—that he was just using Andrea. "Sa akin po, kung ginamit ko po siya, marami naman pong offers yung ABS-CBN... interviews with her, shows with her. And simula po noong naging kami, never akong nag-yes," he clarified.
"Kasi ayoko naman po na parang i-connect yung trabaho sa personal relationship. Sa akin, sobrang genuine lang ang lahat. Wala sa isip ko yung mga ganyan kasi parang minsan lang akong mag-girlfriend, bakit sa ganyang paraan ko gagawin?"
Ricci and Andrea first made their relationship known via a public proposal during one of the basketball star's games last April 2022 and since then, have continuously blessed us with the cutest interactions, both online and IRL. In an interview last October 2022, the actress also got real about being in such a public relationship, saying that "maraming may alam... mas madali kaming masira kasi ang daming taong involved at pwedeng makialam."
