Kiefer on Gilas return
Credit to Author: Angelli Catan| Date: Mon, 26 Aug 2019 09:00:08 +0000
Kiefer Ravena had to take a deep breath Sunday night the moment he entered with over three minutes left in the first quarter of the Gilas Pilipinas-Adelaide 36ers match, his first since his 18-month FIBA suspension came to an end.
No longer having to worry about the conditions of the ban that came after testing positive for banned substances found in a pre-workout drink, a re-energized Ravena put on an impressive stretch in the second quarter before finishing with 11 points in 17 minutes.
“Parang pagtapak ko pa lang nung umpisa, yun talaga yung naramdaman ko (That was how I felt when once I stepped on the floor),” Ravena said after Gilas’ 85-75 loss to the Adelaide 36ers at the Meralco Gym.
“Hindi mo na kailangang magtago, hindi mo na kailangan mag-isip na bawal to, bawal ganyan. I’m just back to play the sport that I love and just representing the country to the best of my abilities,” he added.
(The good thing about being back is that you don’t have to worry of things that I’m not allowed to do. I’m just back to play the sport that I love and just representing the country to the best of my abilities.)
The lengthy suspension seemed to have not affected Ravena, who scored his first basket when he took the ball from the 36ers’ Kevin White to begin the second quarter.
That stop began a streak of seven consecutive points. He followed it up with a three-point shot from the right elbow, before hitting a pullaway jumper from about 20 feet, though Gilas was still down 29-20 with 7:44 left in the second.
“Ewan ko binigay ata sa akin yung steal na yun, pinalayup ako nung isa e (I don’t know, maybe he let me take the ball from him and score a layup.),” Ravena joked.
“Parang doon pa lang medyo ‘Ok na’, dun ko na natapos yung anu mang nararamdaman kong gigil, yung pagiging kalma ko,” added Ravena.
(From that point on, I was able to put aside whatever emotions I had.)
No one was impressed with Ravena’s game more than coach Yeng Guiao, who despite playing just one tune-up was still included in the 12-man lineup for the FIBA World Cup which starts Saturday.
“It’s his first game but it was already impressive,” Guiao said. “He will still get better. And the good thing about Kiefer is he’s not just contributing on the floor, he also contributes off the floor. Even as young as he is, he is well-respected and considered as a leader of this team already.”
Ravena, however, remains far from impressed with his performance. That is why he plans to suit up for his PBA team NLEX’s tune-up match against Phoenix Pulse on Wednesday in order to get more games under his belt before the World Cup.
“Marami pang kulang. Hopefully I can catch up,” he said while giving himself a rating of about six or seven.
-JONAS TERRADO