In time with the NBA All-Star weekend, we’re stoked to introduce the two new faces of Basketball TV. Pinoy sports fans will be familiar with our new hosts, Riki Flores and Jinno Rufino. Together, they bring a ton of cred, experience and love for the crazy world of hoops.

Before signing up with BTV, Riki was the courtside reporter for the UAAP. She got her start as the sports reporter and student jock for URock at NU 107.5. Jinno, on the other hand, is no newcomer to the Solar family. He’s been the PBA and PBL courtside reporter and analyst since 2010. He also keeps busy as anchor for Fearless Poker, sports editor for Chalk Magazine and editor in chief for UAAP Magazine.    We had a quick chat with Riki and Jinno. Here’s what they had to say about their new gigs.      

Glad to have you guys onboard. Can you tell BTV fans about your love of basketball?

Jinno: I grew up a soccer player, however when I first saw a basketball game as a kid, I fell in love with the sport instantly. I have always said that the sound of the ball bouncing in a gym is probably what my heartbeat sounds like.  

Riki: I've watched infamous DLSU-ADMU games since I was in highs chool, I've crushed on Robert Horry when he was still with the Lakers and cried when he shot that buzzer-beater against the Kings. When I went to college, I was a big Maroons fan even though they had more losses than they had wins. And I even took a basketball officiating class a few semesters back so I could see basketball from a ref's POV.

Jinno: I am a walking encyclopedia of all sorts of weird information about the sport of basketball and the NBA in general, information that others may find useless, but for it to be able to stick to my memory bank, it had to have been able to make a significant impact on me. I am a fan not only of the game itself, but of the lifestyle that goes along with it as well, that includes the music, the art, and the culture that is basketball.

How’s it feel representing the country’s official NBA carrier on cable?

Riki: It felt awesome representing the University of the Philippines in the UAAP and it's a bigger, scarier and more exciting feeling now that I get to represent Philippines' NBA carrier. Scary because I know that basketball is more of a guy's thing and girls are seldom welcome in that part of their world. But let's hope my haircut fools you and my familiarity with the game lowers your guard. :)

Jinno: I was introduced to basketball because of the NBA, Lakers vs Pistons in the finals to be exact, and to say that I have been an NBA fanatic since the late 80's is an understatement, so to be able to be representing the official NBA carrier in the Philippines, is nothing short of realizing a dream.

What sports do you participate in? And how do will you apply the active mindset into your hosting?

Riki: I've been playing softball for the past 7 years and in my entire 7 years in the game I've only made a homerun twice (the second one doesn't count since it was off a bunt and the catcher over-threw the ball, hence my care-free prancing to home base) but in BTV, I try my best to knock it out of the park every single time.

Jinno: I have tried all sorts of sports however the ones that I find myself drawn to the most, outside of hoops, are the adventure/water sports, plus the usual boxing, a round of golf, and when there is enough time and money, circuit racing. When I can I would still participate in futbol (soccer) games, although my doctor told me not to, after I broke my leg in 2006. My competitive drive is probably what fuels the way I view my job. Perhaps the single most important life lesson that sports has taught me throughout the years is that nothing comes easy, that you have to put in the hard work to be able to get better at your craft. Even though I have been a TV host since 2004, I know I still have a long way to go, I have learned from all the past jobs I have had and will continue to grow not just as a host, but as a human being as well

Riki: I'm short so obviously I haven't had ambitions to join a varsity basketball team in school or anything (no, really, I'm very short) however, I am a huge huge huge fan of basketball.