IT looks like Kiefer Ravena is staying put with NLEX in the PBA — at least for the next few months.
In fact, coach Yeng Guiao cited Ravena as one of the players who should play key roles for the Road Warriors and give them a successful campaign starting with the season-opening Philippine Cup.
Appearing in a recent The Gilas Zone podcast co-hosted by Josh Bett and Enzo Flojo, Guiao also pointed to Kevin Alas, Jericho Cruz, Don Trollano and rookie Calvin Oftana as the other players he expects to deliver.
While playing mostly as a power forward for Blackwater in last year’s Philippine Cup Trollano averaged a little over 14 points on top of 8.75 rebounds while Oftana, the San Beda standout and last NCAA MVP picked at No. 3 overall in the draft last March, has been christened by Guiao as the “next Gabe Norwood.”
Ravena heads the list, however, notwithstanding the recent brouhaha about him leaving despite a fresh three-year contract with NLEX and hooking up with a Japan B League team.
It took the PBA stepping in and mandating Ravena to honor his NLEX contract that prevented his move and made him Guiao’s top choice among the Road Warriors who should play major roles.
“Kiefer is No. 1. He’s in probably the best shape he’s ever been,” said Guiao, admitting he is foremost among those eager to see how the Ravena-Alas combo would fare in actual games.
“Kevin and Kiefer as our backcourt, I’m really excited to see that in competition, in a real game situation,” Guiao said.
“In practice they look so good already, but in a real game situation I think they’ll even be better.”
Coming off a sterling performance for Guam in the recent FIBA Asia Cup qualifiers in Jordan, Cruz should also help bolster NLEX’s backcourt even more.
“Jericho just played excellently for Guam,” said Guiao of the 30-year-old who posted two-game averages of 22.0 points, on 63-percent shooting from the field, 4.5 assists and 4.0 rebounds in the Amman bubble
“Jericho is a better passer, he’s a better defender. He’s matured, he’s a leader of the team,” added Guiao.
