Brothers Kiefer and Thirdy Ravena are close off the court. On the court, however, they missed one last ride together with the Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eagles back in 2015.
During Kiefer’s final year of eligibility in the UAAP, Thirdy was declared ineligible due to not making the Ateneo’s grade quota for student-athletes.
Three years later, the two were again on the same court. And this time, they were not opponents in a tune-up game, but were both part of the Gilas pool. Kiefer is part of the seniors pool for the second window of the 2019 FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers, while Thirdy is with the 23 for 2023 cadets.
“Basketball is a very small world. Alam niyo naman yun.
“You’ll never know who’ll your encounter in your professional career once again,” shared Kiefer, who is now a rookie with the NLEX Road Warriors.
For Thirdy, even if he was named as the UAAP Season 80 Men’s Basketball Finals Most Valuable Player, his inclusion to the pool was unexpected. Moreover, he admitted that the moment he stepped on the court of the Meralco Gym on Monday night felt surreal.
“Unang una di ko mapaniwalaan na napili ako kasama dun sa 23. Dati pinapanood ko lang yung Gilas maglaro internationally, hindi ko ma-imagine na nandun na ako sa possible listahan for possible candidates for 2023,” reflected Thirdy, who is four years younger than Kiefer. “It’s a blessing pero it’s also something I should work hard for.
“It’s also added inspiration, added motivation, to represent the country at the highest level of basketball kasi hindi lahat nabibigyan ng ganung chance. Suwerte na ako na maganda yung timing. It’s an honor na napili ako ng mga coaches atsaka nung management.”
Making it extra special for him is the possibility of playing side-by-side with Kiefer once more to make up for the time they had a chance to play together three years ago. His older brother has been dubbed as one of the cornerstones of the Gilas program in the next five years by the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas.
“At least ngayon nabigyan kami ng chance makalaro with each other,” expressed Thirdy. “Kasi sa Ateneo na-miss ko last chance so ngayon parang bonus sa akin na may isa pa akong teammate atsaka kapatid ko pa. Parang natuturuan niya pa ako more than ng pina-practice namin atsaka nabibigyan pa niya ako ng tips while practicing.
“Blessing din nga na naging part kami ng pool, parehas kami.”
Kiefer, on the other hand, is just glad that he and his brother have been given this opportunity to play, train, and even go up against each other.
“Just being in the pool, just being in the same vicinity with Thirdy, it’s really kind of still new to me,” the two-time UAAP MVP confessed. “By the time I got used to being with him in Ateneo, next thing you know he wasn’t going to play next year. It’s something na I’ll get used to. In the long run, whether sa 2023 pa sila makakalaro, dun pa ako makakasali, dun ko siya magiging teammate, it’s fine.
“I’m sure it’s gonna be worth the wait for me and my parents.”
