Prior to the 2021-22 B.League season, Thirdy Ravena of San-En expressed his excitement for the influx of Filipino players that have been tapped as imports in Japan’s premier league.
Firstly, he gets to meet his friends in a different country and gain the same shared experience. But more than that, he also gets to face them for the first time.
That is the case Wednesday night he and the NeoPhoenix (3-5) host Ray Parks and Nagoya (4-4) at the Toyohashi City Gymnasium.
Thirdy – who is four years younger than Parks – has never had a chance to face him at any level. Yes, not even in the UAAP.
But before their first meeting, Thirdy looked back on his friendship with Parks, saying that they had come a long way.
The San-En-Nagoya clash is just one of six games that feature the Filipino imports in B1 on Wednesday. The league is preparing for the opening round of the All-Japan Cup this weekend.
Over at Ukaruchan Arena, Thirdy’s brother Kiefer and Shiga (6-2) face the 5-3 Kawasaki.
Kobe Paras and Niigata (2-6), on the other hand, head to Arena Tachikawa Tachihi to square off against Tokyo (5-3).
Dwight Ramos and Toyama (0-8) look for their first win when they host Osaka (3-5) at Toyama City Gymnasium.
Matt Aquino looks to finally have some court time when Shinshu (4-4) takes on Hokkaido (3-5) at Kotobuki Arena Chikuma.
Photo from Ibaraki Robots
Javi Gomez de Liano though will sit out the game of Ibaraki (1-7) against Mikawa (6-2) at Wing Arena Kariya. Coach Richard Glesman is still breaking the UP product in after seven weeks of no basketball action prior.
