Ravena out to disprove talks of SEAG foes catching up with Philippines

MANILA, Philippines — Chatter has it that neighboring countries’ level of basketball play is slowly catching up with the Philippines.

Heck, even coach Jong Uichico said so when he was tasked to scout the opposition during the 2017 SEABA Championships last May.

But Kiefer Ravena has set his sights to dispel such an idea.

Being the most experienced in the lineup bound for the Southeast Asian Games, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Ravena, said it’s among the items in his personal agenda.

“Kung ano man ang sinasabi nila na they’re catching up, we’ll show them na they still have a lot of catching up to do,” Ravena declared during Chooks-to-Go’s send off for the team at a hotel in Mandaluyong City.

“We have to back that up. We know we have a good basketball program. The Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas and the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) are putting us in a good situation to succeed,” the 23-year-old cager said.

“It’s up to us to take that into action,” he added.

Ravena will be leading a mix of PBA rookies and the country’s top amateur prospects in the Philippines’ bid to defend the basketball crown in the biennial meet.

But as confident as Ravena sounds, he also remains cautious.

“I know it won’t be easy, its gonna be difficult,” the former Ateneo Blue Eagles star said. “We have to prepare and we have to be mentally focused. Like sa FIBA Asia Cup kahapon, in short tournaments like in the SEA Games, you have to be locked in since day one.”

“One loss, one slip-off can spell the difference on missing the gold medal,” he explained. “You have to be ready for everything that’s happening there.”

The Philippines is nurturing a 20-game winning streak after coming back from a FIBA suspension in 2005. For the past three meetings, Thailand has been the biggest thorn to our side. They are our first assignment in the skirmish that begins on Sunday.

 “We have to be aware of everything and prepared for anything actually,” said Ravena, who is shooting for a record fourth straight SEA Games gold.

“Since I’m gunning for my fourth SEA Games gold, tinutulungan ko rin ang teammates ko para maka-adjust,” he said. “‘[H]ow other teams play, how the refs cal the game, how the fans will be in very hostile environments like Malaysia.”

“Hopefully this team grinds it out,” Ravena closed.