AFTER a trailblazing the way in the Japan B. League two years ago, Thirdy Ravena is ready and willing to don the Gilas Pilipinas jersey.
The high-flying former Ateneo standout returned to the country last Tuesday night and promptly buckled down to work yesterday as the newest addition to the national team training pool for the 2023 FIBA World Cup Asian qualifiers.
“Surprise,” Ravena said as he posted a photo of him on his Instagram account doing drills at the Moro Lorenzo Sports Center in Katipunan.
The 6-foot-2 Ravena joined Dwight Ramos of Toyama, another Filipino proving his worth in the Japan B. League; Juan Gomez de Liaño, William Navarro, Jaydee Tungcab, Tzaddy Rangel, and naturalized player Ange Kouame.
The seven players will be boosted by the core of reigning PBA Philippine Cup champion TNT, which is also preparing for the resumption of the Governors Cup tomorrow.
Ravena, 25, will sit out NeoPhoenix’s back-to-back matches against Shiga on Feb. 26 and 27 at the Hamamatsu Arena. He is averaging 12.7 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 2.7 assists in 29 games this season.
Ravena wound up with 23 points, eight rebounds, and three assists against Indonesia in the first window of the 2021 FIBA Asia Cup qualifiers in 2020 and suited up for the squad in last year’s King Abdullah Cup where they finished fourth.
As co-host next year, the Filipino cagers have already gained a slot in the World Cup.
Gilas will tangle with South Korea on Feb. 24 and 28, India on Feb. 25, and New Zealand on Feb. 27 behind closed doors at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
