Kiefer Ravena showed Shiga why he was worth the trouble during their opening game in the 2021-22 B.League season on Saturday.
The visiting San-En NeoPhoenix bamboozled the Lakestars early in the contest, going down 37-59 with 7:41 left in the third canto.
The old Shiga team that finished with a 23-36 record would have folded by then. But Kiefer – who has been in a lot of situations more dire than this, ever since he was in first-year high school – made sure to stay calm.
(C) B.League
“There was nothing special about what we did and it just showed our desire to win.
“Especially with a young team, I made sure that I would play well and keep our team’s composure intact,” said the 27-year-old Gilas captain, who had 11 points, eight assists, and three steals in Shiga’s 93-83 come-from-behind win.
Well, it also did help that Kiefer’s competitive juices were flowing. After all, his younger brother Thirdy was on the other side.
“It was really a great match.
“It’s a big moment for our family and everyone in the Philippines,” expressed Kiefer as thousands watched the game over on various streaming services.
And come Sunday at 1:05 PM, they get to do it all over again.
Though taking round one, Kiefer vows to not pull any punches as he eyes a sweep of Thirdy.
Photo from Shiga Lakestars
“Of course, I’m really happy to win today’s game, but I have to turn the switch back on in just a moment to prepare for tomorrow’s game,” said Kiefer.
“If we lose tomorrow, this victory won’t matter.
“It is important for us to win tomorrow to give back to the boosters who supported us in the venue today. We have to stick to winning and it continues tomorrow,” he closed.
