Ravena joins Gilas Pilipinas pool

MANILA, Philippines - Kiefer Ravena, the Ateneo hotshot who’s just completed his playing years in the UAAP, is the latest addition to the Gilas Pilipinas training pool.

The 6-foot-1 guard showed up in the Gilas practice Monday at the Meralco Gym conducted by assistant coach Jong Uichico in the absence of head coach Tab Baldwin.

“Coach Tab and Kiefer have talked. I don’t know the specifics but I’m sure it’s headed on that direction,” Gilas team manager Butch Antonio told The STAR.

“Eventually, he’ll be there. Just like Troy Rosario,” Antonio added.

Ravena and Rosario are both former Gilas cadet players joining the elite pool in a buildup for the Olympic world qualifying tourney next year.

Ravena had played on three Gilas cadet teams that won the gold medal in the Southeast Asian Games.

On Monday night, he sweated it out with San Miguel Beer’s Junmar Fajardo, Ginebra’s Greg Slaughter, Japeth Aguilar and LA Tenorio, Alaska’s Calvin Abueva, Rain or Shine’s Gabe Norwood, Star’s Marc Pingris and TNT’s Matt Ganuelas-Rosser, Troy Rosario and Moala Tautuaa.

Showing up but staying on the sideline were Jayson Castro, Jeff Chan, Marcio Lassiter, Terrence Romeo and Paul Lee.

Baldwin attended a family emergency in the US and was set to return yesterday.

Helping out Uichico in running the practice were Alex Compton and Josh Reyes.