Former Ateneo Eagles bask in being teammates anew in Gilas Pilipinas
IT IS very rare that collegiate teammates wind up in the same team in one form or another in a higher level of play which is why one should treat it as “special” if the opportunity comes.
Such is the case for former Ateneo Blue Eagles Kiefer Ravena, Von Pessumal and Fonso Gotladera who are currently part of Gilas Pilipinas which is seeing action at the 2017 Williams Jones Cup in Taiwan.
The players did not see it coming but nonetheless welcomed the opportunity to reconnect anew and for a higher purpose at that.
“I guess what comes around goes around. When I was with Ateneo with them I never thought that I would be teammates with them again. But a couple of years later here we are. It feels good to be around with them again,” said Mr. Pessumal, who teamed up with Messrs. Ravena and Gotladera in helping Ateneo win championships in the University Atheltic Association of the Philippines early in the decade, in an interview with BusinessWorld prior to their departure for the Jones Cup.
“We had good chemistry before on and off the court and it’s something I hope helps Gilas in our Jones Cup campaign,” added Mr. Pessumal, a PBA rookie who was recently traded from GlobalPort Batang Pier to the San Miguel Beermen .
Being teammates anew with his old collegiate pals makes this Gilas stint for Mr. Ravena different and noteworthy.
“Obviously being teammates before we already have a bond and we are pretty close to one another. After college it’s really rare to have your college teammates being your teammates again. This is a great opportunity for us to revisit that. I guess our careers were meant to cross paths again one way or another. And we’re just blessed to have this chance to represent our school (Ateneo) and at the same time the country. For us now it’s more than our friendship but it’s something bigger. And we are making the most of that,” Mr. Ravena, for his part, said in a separate interview.
The former King Eagle went on to say that apart from being teammates with Messrs. Pessumal and Gotladera again, what brings him thrills to be playing with them anew is to see how their games have evolved since the last time he joined forces with them in college.
“I’m happy to see how their games have evolved since I last played with them. Fonso, I never saw him shoot so many threepointers before but right now he has added that facet to his game. He is now a pick-and-pop big and that’s how the pros work. You find something in your arsenal that needs to be worked on and develop it. And that’s what he did and I’m happy for him,” said Mr. Ravena of Mr. Gotladera, a rookie big man playing for the NLEX Road Warriors.
“As for Von, his outside shooting has always been there and I think he has become more accurate on it now that he is in the PBA. He is more efficient and his body has developed with all the games he has played in the PBA in a span of one year. I was out of the country for a year and I just watched them only live stream and it has been a great pleasure to see guys I grew up playing with making a name for themselves as well. And I’m happy that I’m teammates with them,” he added.
Gilas Pilipinas currently sports a 2-1 record in the nine-day Jones Cup tournament. It was scheduled to play Japan (0-3) yesterday after noon. —