Kiefer Ravena has always been the loyal soldier of Gilas Pilipinas.
Since he was 16 years old, the second-generation cager has always made sure to be part of the national team, making himself available even if he has commitments to his mother clubs or his school. Just last year, Ravena even went through the gauntlet, joining multiple tournaments Gilas joined — including the Jones Cup, SEA Games, 3X3 World Cup, Champions Cup, and the World Cup Qualifiers.
This time around however, Ravena will not be able to join Gilas for the next 18 months. Monday afternoon, he was slapped with a suspension by FIBA after traces of banned substances were found in his system last February.
And Coach Chot Reyes could not help but be saddened by the situation, saying that it could have happened to anyone.
“He’s the one player who’s available, any time, anywhere, any place that we call him.
“But you know, it’s tough, but like I say, it’s an honest mistake, he took… we exercised caution, we take care of their pre-workout, their pregame, and postgame drinks. Nakikita mo naman sa practices ‘yun ‘di ba? Before and after practice, tayo mismo nagti-timpla noon. It was an honest mistake,” Reyes opined. “That’s as bluntly as I can put it.
“But like anything, we’re gonna find a way, and we have to find a way.”
Besides not being able to play for Gilas, Ravena can’t even be a practice player for the team according to FIBA’s memorandum.
“He’s not even allowed to work.. until two months before the suspension is lifted,” Reyes disclosed.
“You can confirm that, you can ask Sonny [Barrios] but ‘yun ang pagkakaalam ko, he cannot even be a practice player.“
With the third window of the 2019 FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers just a month away, Reyes hopes that the remaining members of the Gilas Elite use this as a rallying point to stand together and unite.
“It’s going to be a bummer of course, it’s going to be a downer, but like in all the setbacks that we’ve received, it’s always going to be, we’re always going to find a way to make it a rallying point later for us,” Reyes hopes.
“Now more than ever, Brad Stevens’ words ring true: ‘The pain is part of the path.'”
