Top rookie prospect Ricci Rivero has submitted his application and requirements for the upcoming 2023 Philippine Basketball Association Draft, the cager's management Virtual Playground confirmed on Friday.

The two-time University Athletic Association of the Philippines champion guard will join other PBA aspirants in the annual draft set on 17 September at the Market! Market! in Taguig City.

Rivero, who won titles for De La Salle University and University of the Philippines, is expected to be selected early in the first round.

The 25-year-old guard has a deep resume, being a former member of the Gilas Pilipinas pool and a 3×3 player for Blackwater. He also signed with Taoyuan in the Taiwan P.League after graduating from UP last year but was not able to see action due to an injury.

Another cager from the VP stable in Letran standout Brent Paraiso has also entered the draft.

"I'm very excited to join the PBA rookie draft because I am inches from reaching one of my dreams which is to play in the PBA," Paraiso, who led the Knights to the National Collegiate Athletic Association Season 98 title, said.

Paraiso was a former teammate of Rivero in La Salle.

Terrafirma owns the top pick followed by Blackwater, Rain or Shine, Phoenix, NorthPort, NLEX, Converge, Meralco, TNT, Magnolia, Barangay Ginebra and San Miguel Beer.