TWO years after he left the country for greener pastures in the Land of the Rising Sun, will Thirdy Ravena still play for the PBA?
Pro league chief Willie Marcial is convinced the high-flying wingman will eventually return home and prove his worth in the PBA.
“Nagpapakasasa siya sa Japan, maganda iyong nilalaro niya, maganda ang treatment sa kanya,” Marcial told Malaya-Business Insight.
“Pagkatapos niya sa Japan and nagsawa na siya, sinabi naman niya na maglalaro siya sa PBA. Gusto pa niyang maglaro sa PBA,” he added.
The 6-foot-2 Ravena blazed a trail after linking up with San-En in the Japan B. League in 2020. He signed a multi-year contract extension with the NeoPhoenix last year.
A slew of amateur standouts and even pros have opted to show their wares overseas the past two years.
The likes of brothers Kiefer and Thirdy Ravena, Bobby Ray Parks Jr, Kobe Paras, Dwight Ramos, Javi Gomez de Liaño, Kemark Cariño, and Matthew Aquino are playing in the fledgling Japan league.
Jordan Heading and Jason Brickman are playing in Taiwan, while 7-foot-3 center Kai Sotto is plying his trade in the Australia’s National Basketball League.
Marcial said those who have left are likely to return.
“Babalik naman sila. Maglalaro pa rin sila sa Pilipinas, hindi lang natin alam kung kailan sila babalik,” Marcial said. “Pero in the long run babalik pa rin sila sa PBA.”
The PBA draft is set on May 15.
Among those likely to join the annual proceedings and expected to be coveted by teams are Jeremiah Gray, who is recovering from an ACL injury, and Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser.
The two highly touted cagers were ruled ineligible last year but are expected to make it this year after the PBA relaxed its rules on Fil-foreign applicants.
La Salle and Gilas Pilipinas prized center Justin Baltazar and Arellano University counterpart Justin Arana lead the possible locals making the jump to the pros that also includes guard James Kwekuteye of San Beda University, Ateneo’s Tyler Tio and Gian Mamuyac, forward Shaun Ildefonso of National University, former Green Archers guard Encho Serrano, former College of St. Benilde wingman Justin Gutang, Letran forward Jeo Ambohot, and former La Salle sniper Jollo Go.
Ganuelas-Rosser, Serrano, and Go have officially applied for the draft along with early hopefuls Daryl Pascual, John Apacible, Fietcher Criss Galvez, Red Cachuela, Jerick Nacpil, John Saycon, Jaybie Mantilla, and Levi dela Cruz.
Blackwater owns the first and ninth picks overall, followed by Terrafirma at No. 2, while Converge selects at third and fourth, and Rain or Shine fifth.
Closing out the first round are NorthPort at sixth, NLEX at seventh, Ginebra at eighth, the Painters at 11th anew, and Magnolia at 12th.
