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By ADRIAN STEWART CO
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Wednesday, february 15, 2017
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FORMER collegiate rivals Jeron Teng and Kiefer Ravena are set to team up when they play for the Mighty Sports-Philippines in the 2017 Dubai Invitational Basketball Tournament from Feb. 17 to 25.
This marks the first time the former De La Salle University Green Archers and Ateneo Blue Eagles stars will be in the same team since becoming part of the Philippine U-16 team eight years ago.
To make the union possible, Teng will be seeking a brief break from his stint with AMA Online Education Titans in the PBA D-League, while Ravena took a timeout from his training with Texas Legends in NBA D-League.
“Feeling ko mag e-enjoy ako and, at the same time, I will be able to represent the country,” Teng said. “AMA allowed me to play (for Mighty Sports) because it is for the country naman.”
“I am sure Kiefer is also happy that we’re going to play for one team this time and we thank the management of Mighty Sports for this opportunity,” added the 2016 PBA D-League Rookie Draft top-overall pick.
Aside from Teng and Ravena, also suiting up for Mighty Sports are Willie Miller, Tyrone Tang, Gary David, Jerwin Gaco, Beau Belga, Marcus Douthit, JC Intal, Ryan Arana, and Anton Manuel.
Serving as the reinforcements for the Charles Tiu-mentored Mighty Sports are former Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Kings import Justin Brownlee and former NBA players Hasheem Thabeet and Dominic McGuire.
The Dubai basketball event will be the Mighty Sports’ third international tournament after ruling the 2016 William Jones Cup and finishing second in the Singapore Invitational.
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The Cebuana Lhuillier-Philippines Davis Cup advanced to the next round after beating the Indonesia, 4-1, in the 2017 Davis Cup Asia/Oceania Group 2 tie recently at the Philippine Columbian Association indoor courts in Paco, Manila.
The Philippines’ campaign started on the wrong foot when debuting Alberto Lim was forced to retire in the singles match against David Agung Susanto of Indonesia, 3-6, 2-6, 6-2, 6-1, 1-1, after suffering from cramps.
Veteran Ruben Gonzales, however, prevented the country from falling to 0-2 hole when he scored a 6-2, 6-4, 6-4 domination over Aditya Hari Sasongko in the second singles event.
The Philippines then snatched a 2-1 lead in the tie as the Filipino pair of Treat Conrad Huey and Francis Casey Alcantara defeated David Agung Susanto and Sanu-Wahyu Trijati, 6-2, 6-4, 6-4.
The country was able to clinch the tie as Gonzales edged Susanto, 6-2, 6-3, 6-4, in the reverse singles while Lim completed the Philippines domination with a 7-5, 6-3 win over Sasongko.
“The players showed passion and a big heart. It’s going to be a lot of hardwork but with the efforts they showed we’ll get eventually there,” said Philippine Davis Cup team manager Jean Henri Lhuillier.
The Philippine Davis Cup will now wait for the winner between Thailand and Kuwait as its next opponent for a chance to return to the Group 1 tie, which the country has not achieved in a while.
“The (Philippine Davis Cup team) now has the pieces to get back at the big boys club so we are optimistic of our chances,” said Philippines’ non-playing team captain Karl Santamaria./PN
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