After JP Erram succumbed to an ACL injury and Bobby Ray Parks continued to pursue his NBA dreams, the Gilas pool for the 2016 FIBA Asia Cup Challenge is now down to 21 men as former Ateneo Blue Eagle Kiefer Ravena has begged off the roster according to head coach Josh Reyes.
“He wont be joining us,” Reyes said Wednesday evening after Gilas’ practice ended.
Ravena was a mainstay in the Gilas cadets program, serving for the country numerous times. He is a three-time SEA Games gold medalist and a SEABA champion. However, he won’t be joining the team this time as he is training in the United States.
Reyes though shared that the absence of Park and Ravena won’t hinder the team’s preparations since the current pool had been training without the two upstarts.
“They weren’t in the practice from day one,” the young mentor shared. “So really all the preparations are here. We’re ready.”
He then added that the leadership duties for the team is currently shared by former King Tamaraw Mac Belo and former King Tiger Kevin Ferrer.
“For the longest time now, Kevin and Mac have been the leaders of this group,” he added.
“So I don’t think there will be a leadership void [without Ravena].”
