MANILA – The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has once again stalled the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) career of Ilonggo guard Kiefer Ravena of NLEX Road Warriors.
The former Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eagles stalwart has just returned from a long layoff during the 2019 PBA Governors’ Cup but he saw his professional career halted anew by the pandemic.
“Kung bibilangin nga natin halos tatlong taon na akong hindi maglalaro,” said the no. 2 overall pick of the 2017 draft. “May mga bagay na nangyayari talaga na hindi natin maiiwasan.”
Ravena suited up for just a conference-and-a-half during the 2018 season, after which he sat out for one year and a half to serve out the 18-month suspension meted on him by FIBA when he was tested for a banned substance.
The Ilonggo guard made his comeback late last year and played with the Road Warriors for an entire conference until they were eliminated by the NorthPort Batang Pier in the quarterfinals.
Instead of getting disappointed, Ravena is looking at the bright side of everything, taking into account the advice given to him by his mother Mozzy Ravena, the former member of the women’s national volleyball team from University of Santo Tomas.
“Nagkaroon ng time with the family. Sabi (siguro) ni Lord since four years old hindi na ako tumigil maglaro ng basketball, tuluy-tuloy na akong naglaro ng basketball,” Ravena said.
“Pero sa ngayon, ‘yung priority kasi talaga is ‘yung health, not only ng players but also the PBA fans, na ayaw nating i-sakripisyo ‘yun para lang matuloy ‘yung liga,” he added./PN
