KIEFER Ravena rejoining NLEX for the rest of the PBA Philippine Cup in Pampanga is a distant possibility.
“Realistically, the chances of him getting back and joining us in time are not that good,” Road Warriors coach Yeng Guiao told Malaya-Business Insight.
“Kapag naayos na niya ang mga kailangan niyang ayusin doon, he could come back and join us here,” added Guiao. “Pero mukhang malabong mangyari ‘yon.”
Ravena left last Wednesday for Japan to work on the requirements he needs to play as an import for the Shiga Lakestars in the Japan B. League.
“Bigla kasing dumating ruling mula sa Japanese government na ‘yung mga foreigners wanting to work in Japan kailangan in-country na by Aug. 25 para maayos ang mga papeles nila,” Guiao related. “Once na naayos na niya ‘yung mga requirements, na sa atin tulad ng GAB license and so forth, then he could re-join us.”
That means Ravena would be gone for almost a month since he needs to undergo a 14-day quarantine upon arrival in Japan. After working on his papers, he would have to do the same isolation routine for at least a week on his return to Manila.
“Tingin namin mga isang buwan siyang mawawala,” noted Guiao.
Then comes another question. Once the Philippine Cup tournament resumes this Wednesday, the PBA intends to play daily from Wednesday to Sunday, with tripleheaders thrown in, to hit its target of winding up by October. That means each team could play as many as three times each week.
“Ibig sabihin noon, once na makabalik na si Kiefer, baka finals na abutin niya,” Guiao said.
“So, we have to be in the semifinals man lang para may abutan pa siya dito. We must buy him some time.”
Shiga opens its B League campaign on Sept. 5 before playing back-to-back games starting Sept. 11 and Ravena may be enticed to just stay and see action there.
Guiao said Ravena promised to be back once his papers in Japan are in order and he trusts his prized guard to live up to his word and stick to the agreement forged with the PBA that he would finish out the Philippine Cup.
“Kasi kung hindi naman namin pinayagang umalis, siguradong may magsasabi diyan na selfish kami,” explained Guiao.
In the meantime, all Guiao could do is to look for positives from the unexpected setback.
“This is a chance for the likes of Jericho (Cruz), Don (Trollano), Philip (Paniamogan), Mike (Ayonayon), Calvin (Oftana) and (David) Semerad to fill in the minutes na mawawala sa pag-alis ni Kiefer,” he said.
“Mahirap, kasi nga iba ang numbers na ibinibigay ni Kiefer,” said Guiao, referring to Ravena’s four-game averages of 15.75 points, anchored on a league-leading 42.3 percent clip from beyond the arc, 6.5 assists, 3.75 rebounds and 1.75 steals.
“But that’s all we can do, hope that others will step up and their efforts would be enough para pagbalik ni Kiefer bakasakaling may abutan pa siya.”
