The once in a lifetime team up of Kiefer Ravena, Jeron Teng, and Kobe Paras would not have been possible if it were not for one gym session.
Paras, who is in a two-week vacation in the Philippines, was just planning to work out one afternoon when Ravena reached out to him.
“Nasa bahay pa ata siya nun tapos papunta kaming gym,” the 23-year-old reflected. “Sakto nag-text sakin si Anton [Altamirano], we were discussing kung who to get [sa Chooks-Pilipinas 3×3] kasi ang naka-commit pa lang si Jeron and I.
“Sabi ko, ‘Kobe, diba you’ll redshirt pa?’ Kasi you transferred? Gusto mo laro ka muna.’ Sabi niya, tignan natin.”
“I was just with Kief, working out, then he told me about 3×3,” the 19-year-old Paras furthered.
“We got in contact with coach Eric [Altamirano], and that’s how it started.”
Eventually, the simple invitation led to deeper talks. Suddenly, the dream team became a reality.
“That’s how it started the three of us,” Ravena beamed.
However, Ravena wanted to have Raymar Jose as the team’s fourth member. His commitments to the Cignal HD Hawkeyes though prevented him to join the team.
“Then we were looking at Toto, kasi we were looking at a hustle and energy guy. Sayang lang, di kinaya ng schedule,” Ravena, an advocate of three-on-three basketball, lamented.
“Pero si kuya JR [Quinahan], fortunately, he’ll bring the same thing.”
And that’s the story of how Chooks-Pilipinas 3×3 was formed.
