Beating the Still Perfect Beermen is Possible for NLEX. But…

(Photo by the PBA Media Bureau)

SMB looked like a team that can’t be stopped by a Phenom. Alone

Having the best all-local starting five has its perks for the San Miguel Beermen. After 3 games into the new season, they have already converted those games into 3 wins with the last one being against the Talk N Text KaTropa where they needed to bleed for that win before hanging on for an 88-76 victory. And that game also proved that the Beermen are more than just about their super starting unit which is led by 4-time MVP, June Mar Fajardo.

Against the KaTropa, Brian Heruela and Matt Ganuelas-Rosser, a former TNT player, provided the defensive intensity that held the ground for San Miguel before stars Alex Cabagnot, Arwind Santos and sharpshooter, Marcio Lassiter all returned to the floor and delivered the finishing blows. Rosser had 8 points while Heruela had 5 points- both came off the bench for Coach Leo Austria.

If Leo Austria can lean on his bench players the same way he can lean on his starters, then it’s already a big problem for the NLEX Road Warriors as they happened to be the next team who will try to end the Berman’s winning streak.

To begin with, no one among Yeng Guiao’s boys can actually match-up defensively against the Kraken, Fajardo. Sure, the Road Warriors got Asi Taulava who has been as dominant as Fajardo back in his prime years but Taulava is among the oldest players to hit the court in the history of the league so Yeng Guiao can’t risk letting his big man getting eaten by Fajardo.

Another reason why Yeng Guiao will have a hard time working on his strategies against San Miguel is the fact that his guards will have to defend the dynamic duo of Alex Cabagnot and Chris Ross, two of the league’s best pick-and-roll guards. Sure, Guiao can send his own dynamic duo of Kevin Alas and Kiefer Ravena to match-against the backcourt duo of San Miguel but we all know that even if Kiefer Ravena goes supernova, it’s not enough. Not against a team like the Beermen.

Conclusion

One thing is certain for now: tonight’s main event between the Beermen and the Road Warriors will be a must-see game because we can expect a high-scoring game from two high-scoring teams who have explosive scorers left and right. 

Question: Can NLEX become the first team to beat San Miguel this season? 

Answer: No. 

Why? The Beermen got 5 stars on their starting 5 and a bunch of reliable players- and a good system that has been installed by a winning coach. 

Leethal Weapon is still Lethal: Earns PBA Player of the Week Recognition

(Photo by the PBA Media Bureau)

Paul Lee adds another recognition after leading Magnolia to back-to-back wins

Paul Lee, despite the tons of injuries that hampered his performance in the last several seasons and even made him miss most of the Star Hotshots’, now known as the Magnolia Hotshots, semifinal series against the Meralco Bolts during the previous Governors’ Cup.

Now healthy and free of injury, Paul Lee is ready to lead his Hotshots as they attempt to end their semifinals upsets over the past season. And he is already making noise early on the 43rd season as he was named as the Player of the Week after leading his team to two consecutive wins after dropping their season opener against the Barangay Ginebra Gin Kings. 

Just how good was Paul Lee?

Paul Lee, AKA The Angas ng Tondo, averaged 17 points, 4 assists, 2 rebounds and, 1.5 blocks in their first two games of the new year. His brilliance started off against the winless, Kia Picanto when he scored all of his 13 points in the pivotal 3rd quarter alone which enabled the Hotshots to run away for good. Then, he took the super rookie, Kiefer Ravena to school as Lee scored 21 points to help Magnolia beat Ravena’s NLEX Road Warriors. 

By taking the recognition, Paul Lee just beat some of the big shots in the league such as 4-time MVP, June Mar Fajardo, Stanley Pringle, Vic Manuel, JP Eram, among others. If he can keep on playing this good, we shouldn’t be surprised if he is to become one of the leading candidates for the Best Player of the Conference award for the All-Filipino conference. 

Conclusion

The Magnolia Hotshots are currently tied with the Gin Kings as both squads have a 3-1 record which is good for second place just behind the unbeaten San Miguel Beermen and one of the reasons why the Hotshots are hot is because of the brilliance of Paul Lee. And like it or not, Paul Lee is more than just about “angas”. 

Magnolia Wins 2nd Straight Game, Beats NLEX

(Photo by the PBA Media Bureau)

The Hotshots use a big 3rd quarter to run away for good.

There’s no denying the fact that Kiefer Ravena has made the NLEX Road Warriors a better team overall since his grand arrival to the team. And he wasn’t all hype either as he backed his popularity with decent numbers as he led the Road Warriors to straight victories to open the PBA Philippine Cup. Then, he was limited to 8 points against the Phoenix Fuel Masters. Everybody had one thought after that game: Kiefer Ravena will come back better.

And that’s what he did. Kiefer Ravena scored 31 points on 12 for 20 field goal shooting but the Magnolia Hotshots came out victorious, 105-94 after running away for good in the 3rd quarter. That, by the way, was Magnolia’s 2nd straight victory as they hiked their record to 3-1, good for second place behind the still unbeaten San Miguel Beernen. On the other hand, NLEX absorbed its second straight defeat.

To begin with, both teams are filled with star power and the talent but what enabled Magnolia to win the game? Below are the things that gave the Hotshots the win:

Paul Lee’s 3rd Quarter Run

To begin with, the Hotshots were already up 51-43 at the halftime as they outscored the Road Warriors, 30-18 in the first quarter alone. Then, with the Hotshots hanging to a single-digit lead, the boys of Chito Victolero went on an offensive onslaught in the third quarter that was led by none other than their star guard, Paul Lee who scored 12 of his 21 points in that decisive quarter which took away the life out of the Road Warriors when the Hotshots scored 34 points while limiting NLEX to only 25 points. 

54 Points from the Bench

Sure, Kiefer Ravena had 31 points and Kevin Alas had 13 for the starting unit of the Road Warriors while JR Quinahan had 22 points while coming off the bench for Yeng Guiao but it was the bench of Victolero who did the better job of taking off some of the offensive load away from their starters as they scored 54 points. Rome dela Rosa had 14 points while veteran big man, Aldrech Ramos had 11 points. PJ Simon and Jio Jalalon had 9 points apiece. Now that’s a balanced effort, folks. 

Defensive Effort

If anything, it was the defensive work of the Hotshots that did the wonders for Magnolia against an offensive-minded team as the NLEX Road Warriors were limited to under 100 points for the second consecutive team. In addition to this, the Hotshots also limited NLEX to only 20% shooting from the three-point line who only made 5 of their 24 ATTEMPTS from deep.

Conclusion

This game proved one thing: no matter how great your numbers are, it’s meaningless if you don’t get the big W. And for the Magnolia Hotshots, this one was definitely a big win for them because according to Chito Victolero, having two straight wins to open 2018 sets the right mindset into their players that they can beat any team no matter what the odds are.

For NLEX, riding on a 2-game losing streak will mean more yells from Yeng Guiao especially during practices but the beauty of it, they can learn from this experience because now that the teams have cracked their weakness, they just need to overcome their horrible offensive performance during their last two games to score over 100 points but they will need more help because Kiefer Ravena can’t lead them to wins every single time. 

Expect the Phenom to Redeem Himself after Horrible Loss to Phoenix

Basketball is all about consistency and effort. If you exert a big amount of effort on improving your game to become a more consistent player on both sides of the game, you will be a big hit in the game regardless of your height or what position you are playing. 

However, all basketball players, regardless of how talented he is, are prone to having bad nights especially if they are known as elite scorers. And recently, Kiefer Ravena just experienced one of his worst games in his young career.

After leading the NLEX Road Warriors to 2 consecutive victories to open the PBA Philippine Cup, Kiefer Ravena was sent back crashing to Earth as his Road Warriors absorbed their first defeat of the conference after bowing down to the much-improved Phoenix Fuel Master, 102-95.

To give credit to the Road Warriors, they were actually up, 25-19 after the first quarter but the Fuel Masters outscored their opponents in the next two quarters before holding on to their first win for 2018. Balanced offense enabled the Fuel Masters to win as they had 6 players who scored in double figures, led by Matthew Wright who had 19 points while going 4 for 8 from the three-point line.

Kiefer Ravena had his fair share of the blame as he went 4 for 13 from the field while totaling 8 points after scoring easily during his first 2 PBA games. He did have 7 assists which are his usual numbers this season but one could only give credit to Coach Louie Alas who managed to find a way to shut down the Phenom.

Conclusion 

The good news is: he still got a lot of time to catch for his horrible performance and also got a big game ahead of him against Mark Barroca and the rest of the Magnolia Hotshots this coming Sunday. While having bad games is a norm in basketball, one thing we have seen in Kiefer Ravena even during his decorated stint in the UAAP is that every time he had a horrible game, his next opponent is probably doomed because the Phenom had always come back better.

Prediction: NLEX will win on Sunday.

Phoenix is a Different Team- Yeng Guiao

(Photo by the PBA Media Bureau)

NLEX coach stays wary of the Fuel Masters ahead of their encounter

The Phoenix Fuel Masters have come a long way from the way they debuted back in the 2016 Commissioner’s Cup. Even though they lost their first game under their new coach, Louie Alas to open the 2017 Philippine Cup, the Fuel Masters bounced back against the still winless, Kia Picanto as the former exploded for 125 points. That’s why one particular coach in the PBA remains wary of what this Phoenix team can do. That coach is none other than Yeng Guiao whose NLEX Road Warriors are scheduled to open 2018 with an encounter against the team who beat them during the pre-season.

And Yeng Guiao has all the reasons to worry about the Phoenix Fuel Masters. After all, it was Phoenix who handed Guiao his first ever defeat in his coaching stint with NLEX although the Road Warriors took the next two encounters. And aside from having a new coach in Alas, the Fuel Masters have a drastically different roster compared to what they had before.

Yeng Guiao took notice that Phoenix has a healthy Matthew Wright and of course, one of his former players in Jeff Chan who played under Guiao during his stint with the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters. But more importantly, the occasionally hot-headed coach also noted that the Fuel Masters are now bannered by one of the promising rookies in the 2017 draft: Jason Perkins.

Aside from the key players and the new coach of Phoenix, Yeng Guiao has other things to worry about with regards to their first game of the year. The coach is worried that the holiday break took some of the sharpness from the Road Warriors which enabled Kiefer Ravena and company to win the first two games of the new season.

Conclusion

Fortunately for the Road Warriors, Yeng Guiao is someone who always gets what he wants from his players. If he demands 110% focus on the game at hand, he will definitely get it. Why? Who would enjoy being yelled at by Yeng Guiao aside from being benched? Unfortunately for the Fuel Masters, they have no one to stop Kiefer Ravena.

Prediction: NLEX will win.

Check out NLEX Rookie Kiefer Ravena’s Outrageous Photo from Rookie Initiation

Kiefer Ravena rocked the Elsa costume from the popular Disney movie Frozen during Rookie Initiation Night.

Being a Phenom and a top scorer does not exempt you from going through the team rookie initiation. Ravena who has already made a big impact on his team didn’t mind wearing the famous Elsa from Frozen movie costume as he poses for a photo which is almost certain to go viral.

Ravena at 24 years old is no stranger to being in the limelight as the second pick overall in the current PBA rookie draft has a number of appearances as a TV personality and as a basketball player. His stint with the PBA, however, has been long overdue and anticipated by fans.

His presence alongside NLEX’ another premier point guard Kevin Alas is expected to wreak havoc in the PBA as both players are known for their scoring and high intensity and fast pace game.  For now, let’s just enjoy the moment as this could be the first and the last time you would see Kiefer in an atrocious costume.

Watch Kiefer Ravena first post-game interview as the best player:

The Phenom Bags First Player of the Week Award

(Photo by the PBA Media Bureau)

His numbers speak for himself.

Kiefer Ravena’s greatness has been witnessed by everyone since he was playing for the Ateneo de Manila Blue Eaglets. Then he elevated into the collegiate ranks where he spread his wings furthermore. While playing under Norman Black for a team who was in a middle of a 5-peat run, the Phenom made sure that he left his marks as he won multiple awards including MVPs and Mythical Tem selections.

While his last two seasons with the Blue Eagles went nuts as the Eagles faltered in the Final 4, twice, Ravena managed to show that he’s more than ready to enter the PBA but chose to explore playing opportunities in the United States, even joining the tryouts in the NBA D-League. While nothing happened in that scenario, the Phenom returned home and answered the calls of our national team. Soon, he already has 4 SEA Games gold medals under his belt. Then, he entered the PBA Draft and landed under the guidance of one of the league’s fiercest coaches, Yeng Guiao.

Kiefer Ravena wasted no time in making the most of his time as he dished out his PBA assist just a few seconds right after tip-off against Kia Picanto. By the end of the game, the Phenom has totaled 18 points and 12 assists plus 7 rebounds while leading the NLEX Road Warriors to a 119-115 opening day victory. But that was only the beginning, folks.

On Christmas Day, he led NLEX anew to another victory as he scored 20 points and added 5 assists plus 4 steals in another all-around performance against the GlobalPort Batang Pier who had to play without their star, Terrence Romeo.

As a result of his phenomenal start to his career, Kiefer Ravena was hailed as the Player of the Week in the league’s first week. In his first two games, Ravena averaged 19 points, 8 assists, and 4 rebounds while beating big names for the award such as June Mar Fajardo, Greg Slaughter, JR Quinahan and others.

Conclusion

As mentioned above, Kiefer Ravena is just getting started and we shouldn’t be surprised either if he goes on winning more than just the Player of the Week award. After all, he’s the next-best rookie in his draft class with Christian Standhardinger still busy with his ABL stint. Who knows? Ravena might already be the front-runner for the Rookie of the Year award.  

NLEX Wins Despite 33 Points from Stanley Pringle

Ravena, Quinahan lead balanced scoring to go 2-0 in the Philippine Cup.

After getting Kiefer Ravena as the 2nd overall pick from this year’s draft, many people thought that the arrival of the Phenom could help the NLEX Road Warriors contend for a championship. After all, Ravena contributed in the 5-peat run of the Ateneo de Manila Blue Eagles in the UAAP, a run that stretched from 2008 to 2012 under Norman Black.

Fast forward to the opening conference of the 43rd season of the PBA, Kiefer Ravena has been living up the hype that was built around him as he continued his phenomenal start to his long-anticipated PBA career. On Christmas Day, the Phenom led the NLEX Road Warriors to a 115-104 victory over the GlobalPort Batang, taking advantage of the absence of 3-time scoring champion, Terrence Romeo and overcoming Stanley Pringle’s 33 points. 

Outside of Kiefer Ravena’s brilliance on the court, Yeng Guiao was able to get the most from his team like he always does. Below are the things that won the game for NLEX:

Balanced Scoring

Sure, Stanley Pringle exploded for 33 points, going 11 for 21 on the field while playing for 41 minutes but he was one of the only 2 starters of GlobalPort who scored in double figures. 

On the other side, NLEX had 5 of their starters who scored at least 8 points, led by Kiefer Ravena who had 20 points and 5 assists. JR Quinahan followed that up with his 19 points and 9 rebounds which earned him the Best Player of the Game award. Larry Fornacier had 12 points despite his shooting woes while fellow Ateneo alumnus, Juami Tiongson scored 10 points. 

25 Turnovers Hurt GlobalPort

Playing without their star, Terrence Romeo could have played a role in the Batang Pier’s defeat to open their season but they turned the ball over, 25 times- a thing that the Road Warriors took advantage of as they scored 24 points from those turnovers. In contrast, the Batang Pier only forced 16 turnovers from NLEX and only scored 15 points from those NLEX miscues. 

59 Points from NLEX’s Bench

As mentioned above, Yeng Guiao has been known as a coach who is getting the most out of his players- most especially from his bench troopers. Against the Batang Pier, the bench of NLEX exploded for 59 points- a far contrast from the 43 points of the bench players of GlobalPort. 

Conclusion

Whether or not Kiefer Ravena can keep up his phenomenal performance especially against the elite teams is something that we all have to wait and see. But given the fact that he’s playing under Yeng Guiao, we can all bet that Ravena is already the top bet for this season’s Rookie of the Year. And who knows, the dynamic duo of the Phenom and Kevin Alas might be the missing piece for Yeng Guiao to add another championship under his belt. 

The Kiefer Ravena and Terrence Romeo Battle: Who will win?

Both are proven scorers in their collegiate careers. Who will prevail on their Christmas clash?

When Kiefer Ravena first announced that he would be finally joining the draft, most basketball pundits, including this one, thought that it would be worth all those years of waiting because Kiefer Ravena has long been ready to turn pro owing to his vast experience that he acquired while trying out for the NBA D-League in the United States and also his successful stint with the Gilas Pilipinas which earned him his 4th gold medal in the South East Asian Games earlier this year.

During his first PBA game for the NLEX Road Warriors against the Kia Picanto, the Phenom led the way with 18 points and 12 assists to win on his first game, 119-115. Even Coach Yeng Guiao was impressed with Ravena’s performance, even saying that Ravena is exactly what the doctor ordered. And we all know that the usually hot-headed Yeng Guiao isn’t someone you can easily impress.

Up next for the Road Warriors?

They will be facing the GlobalPort Batang Pier of Terrene Romeo and Stanley Pringle. But let’s just focus on one particular match-up that we’ve already seen in the UAAP, the match-up featuring Kiefer Ravena going up against the Bro, Terrence Romeo.

To begin with, these two guards have already battled each other multiple times during their respective careers in the UAAP which was highlighted by a Finals slugfest which ended up in Ravena’s Ateneo de Manila Blue Eagles hoisting the championship after beating the FEU Tamaraws of Romeo.

While Manong Kiefer may have the numbers against the Bro, this is the PBA.

In terms of experience, Terrence Romeo obviously has the upper hand in this battle of two explosive guards in the PBA. He is already a multi-time scoring champion and that is something we can expect Kiefer to do in his career. And Kiefer Ravena is also one of the few players who can engage in a scoring battle against Romeo.

So who will win tomorrow?

Prediction: The GlobalPort Batang Pier will win

Why? Experience is why. 

Conclusion

While Kiefer Ravena may be a rookie, Terrence Romeo may want to watch his back come tomorrow because the Phenom might make a run for the scoring championship and, the win. And we all know that Yeng Guiao always has something under his sleeves to defends guards like Romeo. Either way, this will be an exciting match-up, right? 

Kiefer Ravena versus Jeron Teng: Who has the better debut game?

Rivalry Continues: Ravena vs Teng

(Photo by the PBA Media Bureau)

Yesterday’s games marked the beginning of the PBA careers of two of the top 5 picks from this year’s draft, Kiefer Ravena of the NLEX Road Warriors and, Jeron Teng of the Alaska Aces. Both young men have well-decorated collegiate careers in the UAAP  with both winning multiple championships for their respective teams plus MVPs and  Finals MVPs. So there’s no surprise at all that these two were included among the top prized rookies in this year’s draft. In fact, if Christian Stanhardinger wasn’t picked as the top pick, many pundits believed that either Ravena or Teng could have been the top pick. Either way, these two will go head-to-head for the Rookie of the Year award because Standhardinger will miss a big chunk of this season due to his ABL stint.

Question: Who got a better debut in their respective debuts?

Let’s start by comparing the numbers:

• Kiefer Ravena: 18 points, 12 assists, 7 rebounds, 7 for 11 shooting
• Jeron Teng: 16 points, 0 assists, 2 rebounds, 4 for 9 shooting

Statistically, Manong Kiefer had a better debut, even better than his father, Bong Ravena who only had 2 points in his first PBA game. While the younger Ravena is already a proven scorer during his college days and even in the amateur ranks, his playmaking ability is what separates him from Standhardinger and Teng. He also had 2 steals and played for 29 minutes and helped to get the big W for the Road Warriors.  

Jeron Teng, on the other hand, is a talented player and only fools will think otherwise. He may not have won on his first game but we all know that he can get better as the season progresses. 

Conclusion

It’s only one game and one good game doesn’t mean a player is already the Rookie of the Year. But there’s no denying the fact that both Kiefer Ravena and Jeron Teng will be the future of the PBA and we are in for a show of this generation’s new breed of basketball stars. Christian Standhardinger may be the top pick but both Ravena and Teng will make the loudest of the noise among rookies not because of their names but because of what they can do with the ball in their hands.  

Who will win the ROY? Prediction: Kiefer Ravena

The Phenom Takes off, Leads NLEX to Win

NLEX was able to hang on for a wire-to-wire win

(Photo by the PBA Media Bureau)

Heading into the new season, the Kia Picanto has been one of the hottest topics of pundits owing to the fact that they traded away their chance of drafting Christian Standhardinger to the San Miguel Beermen in exchange for bench players. Most people are laughing at this decision precisely because Standhardinger could have been the new face of the franchise and he will be, one day, for the Beermen instead. Despite the trade, Chris Gavina said that his team is out to prove their doubters wrong that the Kia Picanto will be competitive with the team that they have.

On the other hand, the NLEX Road Warriors are heading into this game, filled with confidence and hope. Why? The Road Warriors will be bannered by the dynamic backcourt duo of Kevin Alas and this year’s number 2 pick, Kiefer Ravena.

True enough, the Kia Picanto was able to surprise the NLEX Road Warriors until the Road Warriors found their groove late which enabled them to open the Philippine Cup with a 119-115 victory over Kia as they opened the Kiefer Ravena era in the PBA.

Kia’s Impressive Start

Just seconds after making his first start, Kiefer Ravena immediately made sure that his presence was felt as he assisted on the Road Warriors’ first basket and added 2 three-pointers during the first few minutes of the first quarter as NLEX went up, at 12-5 before Eric Camson nailed two freebies for the Picanto. From that moment, the Picanto went on a scoring run to tie the score for the first time, at 12 apiece until Kia took the lead on a Paniamogan trey, at 15-13. The Picanto was able to stretch their lead to 7 points as they were hitting their threes early on. 

The Kia Picanto was able to end the first quarter with the lead, at 40-36. This success can be associated with their 60% shooting from rainbow distance and of course, Eric Camson’s 15 points in the first quarter alone.

Kia Kept on Surprising

While many expected Yeng Guiao’s boys to start playing well at the start of the second quarter, Kia just kept on scoring especially from outside as their lead extended to 8 points, at 48-40 with 10 minutes to play in the first half. A Jackson Corpuz lay-up gave Kia their first double-digit lead, at 54-44. 

Throughout the second quarter, the Picanto was able to get significant contributions from almost everyone- including Ronald Tubid who was one of the players they received from the Standhardinger deal. Even though NLEX was able to inch closer, their offensive inconsistency was what kept them from inching much closer to the latter parts of the quarter. But, thanks to the efforts of Kiefer Ravena who already had 13 points and 7 assists at the half, the Road Warriors were able to trim down the lead to 4 points at the break, at 68-64.

Up and Down Battle in the Second Half

Opening the third quarter with a slim margin, the Picanto relied on their inside game as they slowly established a double-digit anew during the early goings of the 2nd half. However, the Road Warriors went on a 10-0 run to tie the game at 76 all with under 7 minutes to play in the quarter. Kia was able to regain the lead and even extend it back to 9 after Dylan Ababou drained a difficult shot. 

However, just like in the 2nd quarter, Kiefer Ravena led NLEX’s comeback as he scored on a fast break lay-up to tie things up at 85 apiece as Juami Tingson drained a three-pointer to give the Road Warriors their first taste of the lead since the first quarter. Unfortunately, the Picanto was able to end the third quarter with the lead, at 92-90. 

Thre first few minutes of the 4th quarter looked like a see-saw, literally and figuratively as both squads were able to score on each other as the score stayed close unlike in the first half. NLEX actually had multiple chances to take and build a big lead but was only hampered by missed open shots and turnovers. 

Taking advantage of the defensive lapses of NLEX, JR Gallanza scored  5 points on two possessions to make it 106-103 with under 6 minutes to spare. After that, NLEX went on a mini-scoring run to regain the lead, 107-106 only to watch Kia regain the lead on another Camson basket. 

With the score tied at 108 apiece, both teams struggled to score on open opportunities with Kevin Alas getting his fast-break lay-up blocked. Then, with the Picanto down two, Jay-R Reyes attacked his defender, got fouled and calmly drained both charities to tie things up at 111 all with under two minutes to play but Alex Mallari was able to get NLEX back on top with an inside basket. 

After Jay-R Reyes tied the game at 113 all, Larry Fornacier drained a trey while getting fouled and made the ensuing free throw to give NLEX a little cushion with 66 seconds left. Reyes scored on the other end to bring Kia within two as they were able to get the rebound on NLEX’s next possession which led to a fumble. The ball possession remained with the Kia Picanto though although they only had 15 seconds on the game clock. Kia was able to shoot the ball but missed multiple opportunities to tie the score and even turned the ball over with 4.3 seconds left. JR Quinahan iced the game with 2 free throws.

The Numbers

Kiefer Ravena had a phenomenal debut, finishing the game with 18 points, 7 rebounds and 12 assists. Kevin Alas and Michael Miranda added 14 points each for NLEX who shot 51% from the field. 

On the other hand, Kia Picanto had Eric Camson leading them with  24 points while Rashawn McCarthy added 14 points. However, Kia cooled down offensively and only shot 36% from the three-point line.

The scores:

NLEX 119 – Ravena 18, Miranda 14, Alas 14, Mallari 13, Fonacier 12, Al-Hussaini 12, Quinahan 12, Tiongson 11, Baguio 5, Soyud 4, Ighalo 4, Taulava 0.

KIA 115 – Camson 24, McCarthy 14, Corpuz 13, reyes 12, Galanza 12, Celda 9, Ababou 9, Khobuntin 8, Paniamogan 7, Tubid 4, Yee 3, Caperal 0.

Quarter scores:

36-40, 64-68, 90-92, 119-115.

Carlo Lastimosa is Out from NLEX

Here’s why according to Yeng Guiao

While everyone else is already hyped that the PBA’s 43rd season is about to start with the defending champions, San Miguel Beermen opening their title defense against the Phoenix Fuel Masters right after the opening ceremony which will feature each team being led into the court by their respective muses, not everyone is actually looking forward to the opening of the new season. Among those who are not happy are the players who have been dropped by their previous teams due to various reasons.

To begin with, today’s opening of the new season wasn’t even sure until last Wednesday when all 12 team governors, along with Commissioner Chito Narvasa who is rumored to be stepping down from his post soon, held the launching event of the new season. At the very least, it’s sure that PBA fans will have a season to watch out for.

Along with the opening of the new season comes the start of the journey for the rookies who were picked the last draft. While these young rookies have something to look forward to, some players have been bumped from their teams so that these rookies can be accommodated. Painful, isn’t it?

Some of the notable free agents that will have no team come to the opening ceremony later are Chris Ellis, Jonas Villanueva, Chris Lutz and Carlo Lastimosa. Mind you, Jeric Teng is also in the free agent market. But let’s just focus on one player: Carlo Lastimosa. 

Here’s the thing, folks. Carlo Lastimosa, along with Jonas Villanueva- still has a live contract with the  NLEX Road Warriors but he was not included in the official roster that was submitted to the league which means the team that decides to sign Lastimosa will take care of Lastimosa’s existing contract. 

So why Carlo Lastimosa was bumped out of the Road Warriors?

The reason is very much simple- if you will believe Coach Yeng Guiao. According to the coach, the rise of Kevin Alas and the anticipated arrival of the rookie, Kiefer Ravena forced the Road Warriors to unload Lastimosa along with Villanueva. And this move of the Road Warriors will benefit them in the long run especially if Kiefer Ravena stays healthy. 

Conclusion

While it’s sad for Carlo Lastimosa to open the season as a free agent, he shouldn’t lose his focus.Why? He’s still young. He’s still in his prime. Who knows? He might actually land in a championship-contending team. 

Questions to be Answered in the New PBA Season

Fans will finally get the answers once the season kicks off next week

(Photo by the PBA Media Bureau)

With the originally scheduled opening of the PBA’s 43rd season just 6 days away, fans are a bit worried. Why?

Here’s why:

There’s no official statement that is released just yet with regards to the status of PBA Commissioner Chito Narvasa- whether he will stay on as the commissioner or not. The last thing we heard about the Chito Narvasa Saga was that the SMC Group, along with their allies, failed to show up in the board meeting that would have allowed both sides to settle this issue, once and for all. 

Even though outgoing PBA Chairman Mikee Romero has already stated a few weeks ago that the issue surrounding the commissioner would be settled before the season opens on the 17th, we haven’t received anything official- just yet. 

Which brings us to the first question that needs to be answered ASAP:

Who will be the PBA Commissioner come December 17, 2017?

While Chito Narvasa is still the commissioner as far as the 5 teams that have been backing him are concerned, the 7 teams that wanted him out of the picture would have Rickie Santos as officer-in-charge until such time that a commissioner gets 8 votes from the 12 teams. 

Technically, Chito Narvasa is still the PBA commissioner- for now. That’s because if you are to look at the rules, 8 votes are needed to either remove or retain a commissioner and so far, it’s technically and figuratively a stalemate. 

Will San Miguel win a Grand Slam this time?

Possibly. If the Beermen can figure out the  Ginebra problem, a problem which ended their chances at a rare Grand Slam last season. 

But talent-wise, a Grand Slam for the Beermnen is more than possible than ever because of the fact that they will have Christian Standhardinger who is expected to suit up upon the completion of his stint in the ABL. Plus, the Beermen’s best starting unit remains intact headed by 4-time MVP, June Mar Fajardo. 

Who will win the Rookie of the Year?

This year’s draft class is filled with talent, probably one of the most talented draft class in recent memory. So the race for the Rookie of the Year will be tight. Here’s the catchy part: Christian Standhardinger will miss the Philippine Cup so that’s a big blow for his chances which means guys like Kiefer Ravena, Jeron Teng and even Reymar Jose are the probable candidate for the ROY. 

Conclusion

Will the season start as scheduled? There’s no word that there’ll be a move so yes, the PBA will be back on December 17, 2017. The commissioner? Grand Slam? ROY? We’ll sure get the answers. Eventually. 

Balls-Eye: Gilas’ Small Squad on Extreme Pressure to Suffice Romeo’s Absence

Team Gilas’ small squad needs to step up to fill the gap left by Terrence Romeo being injured and unable to play for the country.

Though National Coach Chot Reyes said that they are not closing the doors for Terrence, the National team cannot afford to lose games without Terrence for his break is still indefinite in order to recuperate from his injury.

In that case, the ambitious Gilas Pilipinas needs an extra push to be provided by the small guys to make their world cup dream come true. This means pressure, a high level of pressure bestowed upon the shoulders of the small guys.

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Ravena and Pogoy stepping up is a MUST do to secure victories especially when facing powerhouse teams. However, in their first game against the Japanese, we’ve seen both of them struggle. Pogoy merely made an outside shot whilst Ravena had a hard time in making plays when he switched against Castro as the primary point guard. Thanks to Matthew Right, the vulnerability of the small men was covered up.

Gilas must not solely rely on Andre Blatche. Blatche may be offensively unstoppable, or so it seemed. Andre shoots poorly from the free-throw line so it will be as easy as giving up a foul without leaving a door open for a three-point play to stop Gilas’ giant black beast.

Now if ever this happens that the Gilas inside and big men were outsized and overpowered, it shall be their outside gunners to be relentless in scoring and only then the defensive are will start to loosen, making it a bit easier for the Gilas’ bigs to help out the team better.

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Romeo’s absence is not an excuse for the national team to throw in the towel too early. In fact, they have won their first game against Japan. Though failing to dominate, they managed to silence the loud throng of the crowd inside the arena cheering for their opponent.

It is a good start. It is a good ‘start’. And they must keep getting ‘better’ to achieve what’s best for the team with or without one of their best point guard Terrence Romeo.

Will Kiefer Ravena or Kevin Alas Enough to Replace Terrence Romeo

Young Blood Ravena and Alas Could Replace Terrence, Are they enough?

We are not saying that these two guards are anything less than Terrence Romeo but Terrence Romeo isn’t exactly just your usual point guard.

Aside from his rumored trade request, Terrence Romeo is also currently injured right now and while he comes in and out of the National Squad practice, he is still unable to play.

Terrence is a big part of the National Squad as he is one of the main gunners of the Philippines. His ability to make a shot for his own and courage to shoot under any circumstance has paid dividends and has earned him a spot in the previous Gilas squad. Without Terrence Romeo, the team would have a big space to fill in.

Two NLEX Road Warriors players, however, has been tapped and is part of the 16 man pool that will represent the Philippines against Japan and Taiwan. Kevin Alas and Kiefer Ravena could be tasked to replace Terrence Romeo in the event that Romeo fails to play for the nationals. Both players certainly have the offensive weapons and they have shown that they can deliver the goods to their respective teams.

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Kiefer Ravena is coming off a fresh stint with the Gilas Pilipinas and had taken home gold in the recent South East Asian Games. Ravena is also an incoming rookie for the PBA. On the other hand, Kevin Alas is an established guard for NLEX Road Warriors and his efficient style of plays has recently earned him a new contract with his mother team who, coincidentally, will also be the team, of Kiefer Ravena.

Both players are athletic and possess the offensive prowess to take over a game and create shots if needed. The only question would be is, if their style will be a good fit for the new Gilas team.

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Who would you replace Terrence Romeo with?

Kevin Alas

Kiefer Ravena

No one

Both

Survey Maker

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Details on Kiefer Ravena’s PBA Salary Revealed, 350,000 a Month!

It’s huge! Kiefer Ravena’s salary means a lot is expected from him

If NLEX could offer him more then maybe they would but for now, Keifer Ravena would have to settle for a maximum rookie salary that’s worth 8.5 million in three years. 

The 2nd overall pick of this year’s draft may have waited to get into the PBA but that delay was worth it after the team who drafted him showed big confidence and locked him for three years. 

As per our source, his salary on a monthly basis will be at  P150,000 a month for the first year. Then will go to P225,000 and the last year would be at  P350,000. The salary isn’t the highest as Terrence Romeo and JunMar Fajardo, two of the biggest names in the PBA is getting more or less half a million every month.

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At 24 years old, however, the former Ateneo star is only one of the two players this rookie class who’s getting a max deal, one of which is Rookie Christian Standhardinger.

Kiefer Ravena has shown excitement on twitter and there is really no reason why not, especially after Coach Yeng Guiao has praised him and showed confidence to what he can potentially do for the team.

Excited to be part of @NLEXWorld 🛣🛣🛣 https://t.co/fL6a5kQlVi

— Kiefer Ravena (@kieferravena) November 6, 2017

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How Much (More) Money will the 1st PBA Pick Make Compared to the 3rd Pick, Seems Unfair!

Christian Standhardinger picked 1st while Raymar Jose was 3rd overall in the 2017 PBA Rookie Draft.

Standhardinger and Jose are only one pick apart in the rookie draft but their salary won’t be that close as Blackwater Elite may still be unsure if the D-League MVP is worth the same hefty money that number 1 and number 2 pick is getting. 

If you have not heard yet, San Miguel Beermen Rookie Christian Standhardinger and NLEX Road Warriors Kiefer Ravena are getting a max rookie deal that is worth around 8 million or about 230,000 per month. We certainly have no qualms about the salary of the first two picks as they deserved it given that they are already a proven star in their own rights and their upside is just astronomical but, Raymar Jose isn’t exactly far behind as the young Raymar is also a proven leader during his college years in FEU amassing good numbers in points and rebounds. He wouldn’t be picked number 3 for nothing, right?

Raymar Jose has also played with the ASEAN Basketball League squad Kaohsiung Truth and of course, he also represented the Philippines as part of the Gilas Pilipinas squad so surely he has all the achievements to show and get a good starting salary at par with what Standhardinger and Kiefer Ravena is getting.

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Blackwater Elite offer

According to sources,  the 6’5 forward will be getting P100,000 less than the first and the second pick, in fact, he might be getting less money than Perkins or Teng.  Blackwater team manager Johnson Martinez is said to offer Jose a meager amount of P120,000 a month for the first year and P180,000 for the second.  Even Perkins who is the fourth pick will get more money than Jose at 150,000 for the first year. 

Blackwater, however, added that his second-year salary would go up to 180,00K and if he will be able to prove himself, then he would get an additional performance bonus.

Side note: Last year Mac Belo(2nd pick), Kevin Ferrer(3rd pick) and Jio Jalalon(11th) got the max deal.

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Do you think Raymar Jose should get a higher salary?

Yes

No

Maybe

He needs to prove himself first

Blackwater low balling Raymar

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Welcome to the PBA Millionaires Club, PBA Rookie Kiefer Ravena

Kiefer Ravena Signed Max Deal with NLEX Road Warriors

How much Kiefer Ravena will earn in the PBA?

Kiefer Isaac Crisologo Ravena, the former two-time Champion, and UAAP MVP just got paid and this is just the beginning.

Ravena was picked second overall in the recent PBA rookie draft just behind Filipino German Christian Standhardinger who was picked by SMB after acquiring the draft from Kia. Ravena has been highly regarded as the best pure Filipino player in the draft and expectations are already high for the young 24-year-old as he leads the newly invigorated NLEX Road Warriors team that surprisingly did very well in the last PBA conference.

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According to sources, NLEX Road Warriors signed the coveted guard to a 3-year max deal that would see him team up with Kevin Alas who is the current primary point guard of the Warriors. The amount is about 8.5 million or 230,000 pesos per month which is not bad for a rookie.

Coach Yeng Guiao expects Kiefer Ravena to make an immediate impact and getting a max deal certainly says a lot about the commitment of the team to the young rookie.

Side note: Kiefer Ravena’s father Bong Ravena was also a professional PBA player and was also coached by Yeng Guiao.

9 Reasons Why The Phenom Kiefer Ravena Should be Number 1 in the 2017 PBA Rookie Draft!

Kiefer Ravena is really the best in class even against Standhardinger

Photo from PBA Media Bureau

Kiefer Ravena is a franchise player material, should be number 1!

Sure, you can’t train height and these days in the PBA it is a rarity and while everyone has been looking at Christian Standhardinger as the consensus number 1 pick of this year PBA rookie draft, I personally have a different perspective. 

Kiefer Ravena has long been considered as a top pick for the PBA even before we heard about Christian Standhardinger and the 23-year-old point guard from Iloilo who played for the Blue Eagles have proven his worth time and again. 

Here are the reasons why we think Kiefer Ravena should be the number 1 pick. 

1. Proven Winner. 

Kiefer Ravena won’t be called the Phenom for nothing. At a young age, he has already accomplished things that none of the other PBA rookie hopefuls had. He probably got the most championships under his belt with different leagues. He also has MVP and mythical team awards left and right and just to give you an idea of how accomplished the young baller is, take a look at the list of his accolades so far below. 

2× UAAP champion (2011, 2012)

2× UAAP MVP (2014, 2015)

3× UAAP Mythical Team (2011, 2014, 2015)

UAAP Rookie of the Year (2011)

FilOil Flying V Cup champion (2011)

FilOil Flying V Cup MVP (2011)

3× Flying V Cup Mythical Team (2011, 2012, 2013)

Unigames champion (2014)

Unigames MVP (2014)

Unigames Mythical Team (2014)

PCCL Mythical Team (2012)

PCBL MVP (2016)

PCBL Mythical Team (2016)

College Basketball Awards MVP (2011)

4× College Basketball Awards Mythical Team (2011, 2012, 2014, 2016)

FIBA Asia U-18 Championship Mythical Team (2010)

SEABA Under-18 Championship

Gold medal – first place 2010 Yangon SEABA Championship

Gold medal – first place 2015 Singapore Southeast Asian Games

Gold medal – first place 2011 Jakarta 

Gold medal – first place 2013 Naypyidaw 

Gold medal – first place 2015 Singapore 

Gold medal – first place 2017 Kuala Lumpur 

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2. International Experience and Exposure 

A stint with Might Sports, Texas Legends, Alab Pilipinas, the National Teams and other international basketball tournaments. Kiefer is no stranger to different styles of basketball as he had already played around the world, most of which he was rather successful. Garnering 6 gold medal representing the Philippines and playing against top players all over the world. This basketball player would probably not have any rookie jitters as he has been preparing for this moment for a long time already. 

3. Multi-faceted Game 

Christian Standhardinger may be able to dominate the inside and grab a number of rebounds for you but Kiefer Ravena can do a lot more. In his college years alone, he averaged as high as 21 points while grabbing 5 rebounds, dishing out 5 assists and complementing his total all-around game with almost 2 steals per game. Kiefer Ravena is a unique basketball player who can do a lot of things for his team. He can play the one and two spots and has the ability to play effectively on both ends of the court.  

3. Exceptional Athleticism 

The highest vertical leap at 39.5 inches, the fastest to sprint the 3/4 court in just 2.78 seconds and also besting the agility drill. Kiefer Ravena topped 3 of the 5 tests in the recent PBA Draft Combine proving that he does not only have the skill set to be a top pick but also the athleticism and the body to compete against the rough and tough game of the PBA. 

4. Leader Mentality 

Kiefer Ravena looks like a natural born leader on and off the court. On the court, he leads and takes risks. He is the type of player who takes charge on a tight situation. Never shying away from taking shots, Kiefer is an ideal player who can take a team to new heights and will certainly push boundaries. 

5. Commitment 

Kiefer Ravena at 23 has gone places and have played in different leagues. He has tried out internationally including in the NBA D-league but at this stage of his career, we think he is now fully committed to the PBA and unlike Standhardinger who signed a contract with Hong Kong Eastern Long Lions while also applying for the PBA Draft, Standhardinger not only will he be not readily available as he needs to honor his commitment to his current team, he  may also have the tendency to play for another international league due to his international experience. 

6. Star Power 

Yes,  Standhardinger is now a star in basketball and could be bigger once he officially starts, but Kiefer Ravena is bigger and will probably attract more followers than anyone in the rookie draft class this year. Ravena will not only have a following from his alma mater Ateneo, he also captures the followers of his other half Alyssa Valdez, who is also one of the biggest sports figures in the Philippines. But Kiefer’s popularity goes beyond basketball and I am not talking about his viral incident on the internet.  Kiefer is also an actor and a host who appeared on major television and even had a show. He has also been nominated in the past from different magazines like Meg for Top Youth Icon, Candy Cutie Award and to top it all, he also has been included in the Starmometers Award for 5 consecutive years as one of the sexiest men in the Philippines. Imagine how many screaming girl fans your team would win. 

7. Sports & Basketball Lineage 

The son of former PBA and coach Bong Ravena, Kiefer is also the son of a PBA Rookie of the Year and Most Improved Player. Kiefer has lived and breathed basketball together with his younger brother Thirdy. Having a mentor and a father who had great experience in the sports certainly helped a lot in molding a basketball athlete. 

Did I mention his mother was also an athlete?

8. Full Breed Local 

Bong Ravena from Manila whom I mentioned above and Mozy Ravena a volleyball player from UST are the parents of Kiefer Ravena. Both full-blooded Filipinos with proud roots from Iloilo City, Kiefer Ravena is proudly local with international caliber basketball skills. Surely, we should promote locally made products 🙂

9. PBA Primed and Ready

He was probably ready two years ago, and today he is primed and ready to make a difference in the Philippine Basketball Association. Whether he lands with Kia, NLEX and Blackwater, Kiefer Ravena will certainly make an immediate impact on and off the court. He would help bring a number of wins as well as a number of followers. After all, it’s all about numbers in basketball. And he certainly deserves to be this year’s number 1 draft pick.

Good Luck Kiefer Ravena!

Sidenote: If Kia does not want Standhardinger, instead of trading him why not pick Kiefer Ravena instead of getting a number of old guys.

Source of statistics: Wikipedia

A Wheeler’s Opinion: Kiefer Ravena’s 2-Year Delay is Worth it

Former King Eagle finally entering the PBA Draft after 2 years

The Phenom is about to make his much-awaited arrival in the PBA. 

Worry no more, fans of Kiefer Ravena. 

Two years after his final playing season with the Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eagles in the UAAP where he won an MVP award and a couple of championships, he has declared that he is joining the PBA Draft which is scheduled to take place this month. 

Sure, fans would have rejoiced had Kiefer joined the draft right away but trust this basketball pundit in saying that the wait is much more worth it. Why? Right after he hanged his blue and white jersey, the Phenom went to the United States where he explored different opportunities. In fact, he was signed as a developmental player by the Texas Legends, the NBA D-League affiliate of the Dallas Mavericks in the NBA. 

Setting aside his personal ambitions to play in the NBA for the greater need of the country,  he came back home, don the national colors and went on to win his 4th SEA Games gold medal, breaking a 16-year record that was previously held by Rommel Adducul for most number of gold medals won as an individual player. Who doesn’t want to have a SEA Games legend in his team? Kiefer, at 23 years of age, without a doubt, remains as one of the highly-touted prospects to watch for in the upcoming draft. 

If anything, Kiefer’s grand decision to finally apply for the PBA Draft adds a big amount of talent to a  draft class that already has Bobby Ray Parks Jr., Jeron Teng and, Filipino-German and Gilas Pilipinas big man, Christian Standhardinger. While Standhardinger is poised to be picked as the top pick by the Talk N Text KaTropa as predicted by the mock-up of the draft that was made last July, make no mistake about it, folks. 

Kiefer Ravena will be a top 3 pick, top 5 at max. Assuming that TNT does select Standhardinger, the Kia Picanto are predicted to get two-time UAAP MVP, Ray Parks Jr. and with the 3rd pick in the PBA Draft, the Blackwater Elite will choose the Phenom. 

Now, assuming that the Blackwater Elite selects Ravena in the draft, Ravena is expected to start at the point guard, something he did multiple times during his stints with the Blue Eagles and with the national team. He will be reunited with fellow Ateneo graduate, JP Erram. 

In addition to this, he will be providing much-needed reinforcement especially in the offensive end which is needed especially when Allein Maliksi is struggling to get anything going from his end. If anything, Ravena’s recent stint with the Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas during the FIBA Asia Champions Cup, which saw him lead the team in scoring with 20 points per game, is another proof that he is more than PBA-ready. 

Regardless of which team colors, the Phenom will wear come his first PBA game, the rest of the league should watch as the former King Eagle makes his first flight because whether you like him or not, the name Kiefer Ravena has been associated with greatness ever since he was tormenting his opponents in the UAAP- something that Ray Parks Jr. and Jeron Teng have experienced first-hand. And, if you have seen him play with the national team, then you all agree with one simple thing: Kiefer Isaac Crisologo Ravena belongs to the big stage and that big stage is none other than the PBA, with the greatest players that the league has ever seen. 

One bonus of having Kiefer Ravena in the PBA: we may see more of his Queen Phenom, Alyssa Valdez at the game venues during the King Phenom’s games. 

Video: Ravena and Teng Plays Well but Chooks To Go Pilipinas Still Bows to Palestine

Chooks To Go Pilipinas’ First Road Block

Photo by FIBA.com

After winning their first game, Chooks to Go Pilipinas suffered their first loss in the hands of Sareyyet Ramallah of Palestine with the score of  89-82.

First game video: Chooks to Go Pilipinas vs BC Asthana Highlights

First quarter drought proved to be too much for the Philippine team, as they were relegated to chasing the Palestine all game long. Sareyyet Ramallah overall played well against the Philippines shooting 41% against 38% of the Philippines, they also attempted 12 more shots and has converted 10 of their 26 three-point attempts.

Kiefer Ravena and Jeron Teng were the bright spots for the Philippines contributing a combined 42 points but their contribution wasn’t enough to withstand Palestine. Isaiah Austin had nothing special going on scoring only 13 points with 8 rebounds while falling short on his 3 three-point attempts.

Palestine was just too much for the young Philippine team as they were outrebounded (50-46), out-assisted (16-10) and overall outplayed by the better Palestinian team.

The Philippine team now falls to 1 win and 1 loss and is scheduled to face Mono Vampire of Thailand next.

PALESTINE 89 – Weeden 22, Abu Shamala 21, O’Brien 20, G. Habbash 14, Sakanini 10, El Diraoui 2, Sahwani 0, K. Habash 0, I Habash 0

PHILIPPINES 82 – Ravena 24, Jeron Teng 18, Austin 13, Cruz 8, Jose 8, Revilla 6, Manuel 3, Tamsi 2, Torres 0, Jeric Teng 0

Watch the highlights below.

Watch: Philippines Shocked Romania – Full Game – FIBA 3×3 World Cup 2017

First game of the Philippines against Romania in the FIBA 3X3 World Cup 2017. 

The Philippine Team which consists of Kobe Paras, Kiefer Ravena, Jeron Teng and Jr Quinahan proved that they are one tough team after winning against Romania.

SPOTTED: Kiefer Ravena Having a Fun Night

There’s a new place in town for all basketball enthusiasts! Rooted in the heart of Bonifacio Global City, this basketball court named Titan 22 Love Court was officially opened April 22.

Spotted in the new spot is former Ateneo Blue Eagle and star player Kiefer Ravena, who were really having a great time playing basketball with fellow basketball aficionados.

Ravena showed off his own playing styles and skills as he enjoyed every point he made outdoor.

The Titan Love Court bears its signature with colors of red, white, black and touch of gold. It is located on the corner of 32nd Street and 9th Avenue, BGC.

OMG! Kiefer Ravena Received A Special Gift and a Message from LeBron James

FTW! Filipino, Kiefer Ravena, who is currently trying to be the first Pinoy to make it to the NBA, was given by LeBron James a pair of his own Nike Zoom Soldier 10 Camo shoes. Inside the very special packaging was a letter from the King with a message that says: 

“Be the strong, determined, resilient person you’ve always been. Destroy the doubts that the world continues to throw at you. Conquer the world.”

Many Filipino have tried to conquer the NBA and so far none of them have succeeded, Will it be Kiefer Ravena who can finally break the barrier?  

Checkout the sweetest gift ideas from thatsweetgift.com

“Be the strong, determined, resilient person you have always been. Destroy the doubts that the world continue to throw at you. Conquer the world.” Thank you @kingjames ! 2️⃣3️⃣ @nikeph @jappyparulan @nikebasketball #BattleTheDoubt

A video posted by Snapchat: Phenom_q15 (@kieferravena15) on Oct 4, 2016 at 10:11pm PDT

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La Salle completed a come from behind win against college rival Ateneo

The De La Salle University Green Archers and Ateneo De Manila Blue Eagles added a new chapter in their historic rivalry when both teams met yesterday at MOA Arena, on what could be the most anticipated college game of the year.

But it was the Green Archers who used a strong second half to complete a come from behind win, 80-76, over Blue Eagles.

The 1st Quarter ended with Ateneo leading La Salle 25-13.

Ateneo enjoyed a 10-point lead at half 46-36. Ateneo led as much as 15 points in the 1st half.

Green Archers displayed tight pressing defense, accurate 3-point shooting, and forced consecutive turnovers to its rivalry team to tie the game 61-all at the end of 3rd Quarter.

The 4th quarter started with trading basket for each teams. The supporters from each schools does not only unticipates the rivalry from both school but also match-up between the Phenom from Ateneo, Kiefer Ravena, who is now healthy and in top shape versus La Salle’s King Archer, Jeron Teng. The two players trade baskets when their team needed them the most.

In the end, it is the Green Archers taking home the victory with Teng leading the team with 18 points. while Ravena led the Blue Eagles with 19 points.

Boxscore:

DLSU 80 – Teng 18, Torres 15, Perkins 13, Rivero 10, Torralba 9, Caracut 6, Tratter 4, Navarro 3, Muyang 2, Sargent 0.

ATENEO 76 – Ravena 19, Ikeh 13, Capacio 10, Gotladera 8, Pessumal 8, Tolentino 7, Pingoy 6, Apacible 2, Babilonia 2, Ma. Nieto 1, Cani 0.

QUARTER SCORES: 13-25, 36-46, 61-61, 80-76.