Kiefer Ravena and Jeron Teng flatout dominated the collegiate scene. The two have helped steer their teams to four of the last seven UAAP championships.
But as they say, the PBA is a different animal.
The second game day of the 2017-18 Philippine Cup will see the debuts of the two stalwarts that played together during the 2017 FIBA Asia Champions Cup. And expectations are high on the two second generation cagers as they are seen as the building blocks that could help turnaround the franchises they represent.
In the day’s first game, Ravena, the second overall pick in the 2017 PBA Rookie Draft, finally steps on to the hardcourt of the PBA after a two-year wait as the NLEX Road Warriors take on the Kia Picanto at 4:15pm in the Filoil Flying V Centre.
With a “veteran-rookie” in his lineup, second-year Road Warriors head coach Yeng Guiao is not tempering expectations on the two-time UAAP Most Valuable Player, presenting him as a key cog in the team’s championship aspirations this season last December 11.
“It’s really an honor to coach the NLEX team. Isang taon na po ang pinagdaan natin dito at napakahirap. This last draft, nakuha natin yung isang magaling na player, si Kiefer Ravena,” shared Guiao during the unveiling of NLEX’s new logo.
“Pero bago natin siya nakuha, mahirap yung pinagdaan natin.”
And the four-year old franchise hopes that the pain they suffered becomes worth it with Ravena.
Alaska, on the other hand, is not putting pressure on Teng to deliver immediately. Fourth-year Aces head coach Alex Compton noted that the former two-time UAAP Finals MVP is still learning Alaska’s way.
“One of his best qualities that I’ve seen is that he’s a learner.
“It shows a capacity for growth, which is really important,” Compton said about the fifth overall pick in the 2017 Draft. “He’s basically had three weeks of practice with us so he’s still learning what we do, when we do it, how we do it, and why we do it.”
Teng and the Aces though take on a tough assignment on opening day, facing the battle-tested Hotshots at 7:00pm.
Safe to say, all eyes are on the two faces of the next generation.
