Just a few months after graduating from Ateneo de Manila University, Kiefer Ravena’s post-UAAP career has taken off.
The former Ateneo Blue Eagle was a last-minute addition to the Mighty Sports team which reached the finals of the 2016 Merlion Cup held at Singapore.
Mighty Sports were undefeated throughout the group stage and semi-finals, only for them to succumb to a 77-78 loss in the finals at the hands of Chinese Basketball Association club Shanghai Sharks.
Despite the anticlimax, the two-time UAAP MVP deemed the whole journey as a “good experience.”
“I’ve played with Mighty Sports before in the PCBL so it didn’t take a lot for me for blending in and trying to play with that organization since I’ve played with them before,” Ravena narrated. “It was easy for me to gel and play with the local players and the imports.”
“I’m very blessed to be in an organization that welcomes me with open arms. I’m just very happy to be there. We didn’t get the finish that we wanted, but it was a good exposure, good time for us to bond and represent Mighty Sports,” added the past King Eagle.
Mighty Sports won both group games and advanced to the semi-finals where it faced the Singapore Slingers. Ravena felt that the Singapore Slingers were well prepared for Mighty Sports and that it became a player’s game as the Philippine-based team won 72-70.
The next game, though, was a different tale.
“Shanghai Sharks was a different story of course, having Jimmer Fredette and Guerschon Yabusele in the team,” he shared.
“We fought until the end. It was just unfortunate that the breaks of the game didn’t go to our side, pero we fought our best.”
One thing to note in that game was that Ravena faced off against 2011 NCAA Division 1 leading scorer and former NBA lottery pick Jimmer Fredette. It was an experience which would live long in the memory of the SEA Games gold medalist.
“Well after the game nag-congratulate ako. He won the game for them and he said it was a good game and I made it tough for him.
“He still ended up with 41 points, but It’s hard to keep a good man down,” reflected Ravena.
Now that Ravena’s run with Mighty Sports has ended, a return to the United States beckons. He shared, “I’m just waiting for my call back in the States. I just wanted to try it out. That was the first mindset for me coming into the States.
“I just want to try it so sinubukan ko lang sila.”
The decorated cager has already tried out with NBA D-League team Texas Legends and worked out with the Los Angeles Lakers.
For him, though, it was all about giving himself a shot at the NBA dream.
“Hopefully pagpalain ako ni Lord na makuha, pero it’s something I’ve really wanted to try ever since I was a kid,” Ravena concluded.
