Is Kiefer Ravena finally joining PBA Rookie Draft?
Road Warriors in talks on possible entry of potential top pick
BASKETBALL observers believe that it’s a good time for Kiefer Ravena to finally enter the PBA.
Considered as one of the top prospects, Ravena has deferred plans of joining the Rookie Draft the past two years, this despite already finishing his college career in 2015.
Instead, the son of former PBA Rookie of the Year and Most Improved Player Bong Ravena decided to hone his skills more by joining Mighty Sports last year and become part of the team’s touring squad competing in local and international tournaments.
Mr. Ravena also went to the United States to train several times to develop his game.
A many-time member of the all- amateur national men’s basketball team, Mr. Ravena also became part of the Gilas Cadet squad, but he wasn’t included in the pool recently based on the arrangement between the PBA and the governing body Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas that only PBA players will be allowed to represent the squad in the SEABA Men’s Championship.
Mr. Ravena and another top player outside of the PBA, Ray Parks, would have made the pool easily, but were not included in the training team by head coach Chot Reyes as per agreement.
But there’s a big possibility that the second generation player would join the PBA Rookie Draft next season.
NLEX team manager Ronald Dulatre told BusinessWorld that they’ve been talking to Mr. Ravena on his possibility of joining the Draft and the player seems to be interested.
Mr. Ravena played for NLEX in the PBA D-League and with the Road Warriors likely to get the No. 1 pick in next season’s Rookie Draft, the 5- foot- 11 guard would be more interested to finally get on board.
“There were feelers sent to him. We’ve been talking to him on the possibility of him joining the Rookie Draft and he looks interested,” said Mr. Dulatre on a telephone interview.
NLEX head coach Yeng Guiao said he is not yet thinking about the coming Draft, although it has crossed his mind. With his team expected to pick ahead of everybody, picking Mr. Ravena or Mr. Parks, if ever the son of the late seventime PBA Best Import decides to join, would be the logical choice. —