San-En will not be wearing its usual red and black threads when it takes on Kawasaki at its homecourt Toyohashi City General Gymnasium this weekend.
NeoPhoenix will celebrate Thirdy Ravena’s return to San-En after missing almost three months of action with some Ateneo Blue Eagles-inspired gear.
The blue and white was also the original colors of the the OSG Corporation-owned franchise back in 1965, when it was still with the All-Japan Professional Basketball Championships.
And Ravena’s return is a welcome sight for the struggling NeoPhoenix.
The Filipino import fractured his right index finger last January 2.
Since then, San-En won just six games while losing 15, dropping to 11-37 in the 2020-21 B.League tournament.
The 24-year-old is tempering expectations on his return, though.
“Excited pero at the same time very nervous,” said Ravena about his impending return to the court.
“I have only trained with the team once over the last two weeks.”
The three-time UAAP Finals MVP from Ateneo was averaging 8.8 points, 3.67 rebounds, and 1.58 assists a game prior to the injury.
Ravena’s first game back for San-En will be on Wednesday against division leader Ryukyu.
