If there is one knack in Kiefer Ravena’s game all throughout his career, it is his free throw shooting.
During his stellar five-year career with the Ateneo Blue Eagles, the 6-foot guard shot a career total of 67.5 percent from the stripe. He made improvements in his first conference in the pros as he shot 80 percent from the foul line for the elimination round.
However, as they say, old habits die hard.
In Game 3 of the NLEX Road Warriors’ best-of-seven semifinals series against the Magnolia Hotshots, Ravena, who finished with 20 points and five dimes went just 7-of-12 from the charity stripe — including three in the final frame.
Admittedly, the second overall pick in the 2017 PBA Draft shared that he got too caught up with the moment that resulted to the missed freebies.
“Sabi ko naman babalik tayo sa free throw parang college,” quipped the 25-year-old. “But it’s not something… we’re in the pros already, but wala naman ibang sisihin sa free throw, ikaw lang tumitira.
“So I take it upon myself to practice and focus mentally.
“It’s not really more about practice but it’s really more that mental aspect of making it. Nawawala ka sa focus, nawawala ka sa moment. Yun ang hindi pwede maniwala. Kung free throw, yun lang iisipin mo. You cant be thinking about the scoreboard, thinking about the next play, siguro it comes with the pressure with the semifinals. I am a rookie,” he furthered.
But it was not just Ravena who missed from the foul line. In their 99-106 loss, the Road Warriors shot a combined 18-of-29 from the stripe.
“On our end, I felt if we could have made our free throws, baka naka-dikit pa rin kami.
“Kaso kasama na sa breaks yun. The free throws we usually make, we did not make. I think Kiefer missed five free throws and he will usually not do that,” rued NLEX head coach Yeng Guiao.
Come Friday, Ravena and the Road Warriors plan to treat it as a do-or-die game. They know that it will be hard for them to climb out of a 3-1 hole.
“We have to suck it up and take it to the next game. We have to take it a game at a time, prepare for Friday.”
