NLEX could possibly have both Ravena brothers Kiefer and Thirdy in the future.
That thought came in the wake of the recent three-team trade that saw the Road Warriors ship vastly-improved center Poy Erram to TNT, with Blackwater serving as the conduit.
NLEX got Anthony Semerad, Rabeh Al-Hussaini, a 2020 first-round draft pick, and a 2021 second-rounder from the Elite in the deal that underwent revisions before approval by the PBA.
The acquisition of that first-round pick floated the idea of the Ravenas playing side-by-side, since Thirdy is expected to make himself available in this year’s draft after not joining last year.
Kiefer himself admitted that he has imagined the possibility, and that excites him.
“Oo, nai-imagine ko rin ‘yun. Actually nung nakita ko nga ‘yun, ‘di ba hindi naman siya kasama sa unang part ng trade? Hindi ata dapat sa ‘min mapupunta ‘yung first pick ng Blackwater,” he said.
“But then again, siguro si God, meron siyang way of working His ways, na though we have lost Poy in the process but gained Thirdy at the same time, it’s going to be a good plus for us,” he continued.
“Plus, makakatipid kami sa gas kasi mag-iisang kotse na lang kami.”
Still, that idea remains an idea. And it will also depend on how Blackwater — who’s rebuilding under coach Nash Racela — will play this season, as it will decide whether or not that pick will be high.
“Blackwater is an up-and-coming team. There’s no surprise ‘pag maganda ipakita nila because coach Nash is really developing a team with a young core. Positive din sila sa lahat ng mga bagay.”
And on top of everything, Ravena’s and the Road Warriors’s main concern is themselves as they gear up for the new season ahead, which commences on March 8.
“What we can control is how we perform,” the 26-year-old said.
“If we win and we win and we win, make it to the semifinals or the finals or the quarterfinals first, malaking bagay ‘yun.”
