Six games in, third year forward Thirdy Ravena’s UAAP Season 79 campaign has been literally a roller-coaster ride.
After a spectacular return to the UAAP in their first game against the UST Growling Tigers, Ravena scored just two points in the Blue Eagles’ second game of the season. He then followed this up with another 17 point outing against the FEU Tamaraws before totaling just ten points in the next two games.
For Ravena, the system being ran by head coach Tab Baldwin is not about just one player scoring. The system revolves around the little things like setting screens, weaving through the defense, and moving the ball.
“Everything na tinatakbo ng team is commendable. It’s not just one guy scoring,” Ravena said. “The big guys are setting good screens. It’s the little things eh.”
“It’s about working as a team. You all do the little things that make the big difference talaga. That’s what is really nice talaga.”
However, going into the season, the Ateneo community saw Ravena as a take charge guy just like his brother Kiefer. But it was an expectation that was unwarranted according to Baldwin himself.
“I think expectations are foolish. Most of it comes from the lack of intellect with regards to the subject,” the national team head coach remarked. “People don’t know Thirdy personally, they don’t know what to expect of Thirdy.”
“He is just learning the game and understanding our system.”
Wednesday afternoon, Ravena was able to break his dry spell, dropping a career-high 22 points to go along with 10 rebounds against the UP Fighting Maroons. His aggression on offense was a point of emphasis that was instructed to him he shared.
“That was the instruction na binigay sa akin. So I’m just trying to follow it. Not sure if that’s going to continue game to game from now on,” he said. “This game lang naman ako parang ganito eh. We’ll see.”
“Today he played with composure, that’s what we are striving for with him. Now we want to see consistency,” Baldwin added.
But for the American-Kiwi mentor, he wants Ravena to continue honing his craft day in and day out to reach his full potential.
“There’s no question that on anyone’s mind that Thirdy has a lot of potential and a big future. But the future is a long way off, the focus is day to day,” Baldwin closed.
“He is really working his butt off and he is making progress.”
