After absorbing his first defeat in the pros last January 7, Kiefer Ravena went all-out a week later.
Even against the highly-regarded guard rotation of the Magnolia Hotshots, the second overall pick in the 2017 Rookie Draft dropped 31 points on 12-for-20 shooting from the field, five assists, four rebounds, and four steals against zero turnovers. But even with his huge outing, the NLEX Road Warriors succumbed to the Hotshots, 94-105.
The 24-year-old admitted that he was heartbroken that his big night had gone for naught. Making matters worse, he said, is that their two game skid should be a cause for alarm.
“Down the drain.
“But yeah, we have to wake up. After 2-0 now we’re 2-2. We have to fight for survival. Grabe yung dikdikan ng standings ngayon eh. Lahat talaga naghahabol sa panalo,” lamented the 6-foot guard.
He and the Road Warriors battled back from 23 points down early in the fourth, cutting the lead to as low as eight points, 87-79, with 9:16 left. However, the Hotshots showed more effort, especially in the rebounding department, to regain their double-digit cushion.
“We have to triple our effort. Yung double effort, di na gumana eh. So triple pa. 19 rebounds, minus 19 kami sa rebounds? That’s too much,” rued the record-holder for most SEA Games medals in Men’s Basketball.
“That can’t happen again.”
Ravena did not pin all the blame on their lack of effort, admitting that he also has to do his work as the conference enters its toughest stage.
“Well, di naman siguro. Alam mo yun, with the first two games, kahit sino naman rookie, first two games, ‘di nila alam ano ie-expect sa ‘yo,” he shared. “Pero as nagpro-progress yung conference, yung season, they get to watch more of your games, the way you play, your decision-making so at the same time kailangan mong i-counter ‘yon eh, yung ginagawa sa ‘yo.
“So you know, it’s like coming to a test, doing your homework, doing the extra work, getting out of your way, studying the opponent.
“Hindi lang puwede na nagpa-practice lang kayo nang nagpa-practice and you expect to win every single game. Ginagawa nga namin ‘yon eh ‘di kami nananalo, so we have to do something else,” added Ravena, who is averaging 19.25 points and 7.25 assists so far.
The road does not get any easier for Ravena and NLEX. Up next are the San Miguel Beermen, a team that boasts the troika of Alex Cabagnot, Chris Ross, and Marcio Lassiter.
“Another tough game on Friday, San Miguel,” Ravena expressed with a sigh. “We have to forget this and we have to pick up the lessons we’ve learned, [know] what we did wrong, and to apply it [against] San Miguel. And you know, San Miguel is San Miguel.
“We have to just breakout and play together again.”
