JAKARTA – Gilas Pilipinas has been sailing in rough seas basically since the start of the year. And Kiefer Ravena is very much aware of that.
Thus, the bigger responsibility he has on his shoulders in making sure that the ship remains steady, especially now that the FIBA Asia Cup has begun.
“Sometimes, it’s gonna be rocky and everything, but as long as nobody sails overboard or jumps and abandons ships, we’re still the same team,” said the 29-year-old, who’s tasked to lead the team alongside Ray Parks.
“As a leader, that’s what I’m trying to do: Keep everybody on the same page, keep everybody on the same boat,” he furthered.
The program has drawn so much flak ever since the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas’ (SBP) decision to replace Tab Baldwin with the comebacking Chot Reyes on the eve of the Lunar New Year last January.
(C) PSC
Success, coincidentally, was hard to come by for the Filipino dribblers from that point. In the opening window of the World Cup Qualifiers in Manila last February, the squad only split its assignments after being blown out by New Zealand.
(C) Paul Ryan Tan/FIBA Asia
And arguably the lowest point of Gilas happened last May, when the country saw the end of its 33-year rule in Southeast Asian Games men’s basketball at the hands of new king Indonesia, who’s a co-host for the 2023 World Cup.
Injuries have also become a concern for the squad, which began with Ange Kouame as the naturalized center suffered an ACL injury last June.
The others then got hurt one after the another, including cornerstone Dwight Ramos — the reason why he won’t be able to join some of his peers for the continental showpiece being held at the Indonesian capital.
Even Ravena himself is facing problems of his own, mainly his contract situation with NLEX in the PBA and current mother team Shiga in the B.League.
Plenty of woes have definitely compounded the team that’s preparing for next year’s Worlds, but Ravena is doing his best to be a rock to the young ones.
“As they say, tough sailors were made from rough seas,” offered the Ateneo legend, who’s playing in his first-ever Asia Cup. “Itong mga bagay na ‘to is an opportunity for us to rise above challenges mentally, physically, and spiritually.
“And I think, the fire, the hunger of these young guys together with the vets, it’s a good mix na gusto naming may i-prove kami and rise above the challenge and grab this opportunity that’s in front of our careers.”
