Two days after Kiefer Ravena was slapped with an 18-month suspension by the International Basketball Federation, he sat in the patron section of the SMART-Araneta Coliseum as a spectator to the NLEX Road Warriors.
However, the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas received a response from its request for clarification from FIBA stating that the 24-year-old stalwart cannot perform any basketball-related activities from now until August 24, 2019.
NLEX are now asking if this includes being able to watch the games of the Road Warriors.
“Parang malabo pa rin ‘yun. Ganoon katindi, ganoon katindi ‘yung decision,” lamented NLEX head coach Yeng Guiao, as Ravena was not inside the SM Mall of Asia Arena, Sunday evening. “So, we’re still waiting, actually. Baka before our Ginebra game sa Legazpi, baka may sagot na.”
Moreover, Ravena — who averaged 17.2 points, 5.6 assists, and 4.0 rebounds for the conference — cannot even participate in NLEX’s practices. And for Guiao, the punishment is just too harsh.
“Parang ganoon din, parang bawal din. Parang pinatay nga ‘yung career niya eh.”
Still, as hard as the sanctions are, it is still the rule that has been tried and tested by FIBA. All Ravena, Guiao, and the Road Warriors can do is abide.
“Actually, siguro sa kanila malinaw ‘yun eh. Sa atin lang vague kasi ngayon lang natin na-experience ‘yung ganoon, ano. But to them, it’s probably clear because it’s happened to other players in other countries. So sa kanila siguro, malinaw ‘yun,” opined Guiao.
“Pero dahil hindi malinaw sa atin, kailangan ipaliwanag nila sa atin.”
