Rebirth for Ravena

For a while, it looked like Ferdinand (Bong) Ravena’s career was at an ebb in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA). Ravena, 33, languished in Talk ‘N’ Text’s reserve list most of last season and played in only five games, four in the All-Filipino Cup where the 1992 Rookie of the Year averaged five points and 13 minutes an outing.

If there were interested takers, Talk ‘N’ Text didn’t mind giving him up. The problem was Ravena’s contract–inherited from the Pasig Pirates in the defunct Metropolitan Basketball Association (MBA)–is good up to 2005 and no team relished the idea of making a long-term commitment to a player in limbo.

Ravena never played competitive hoops in high school. He was on the varsity football squad for three years at the Iloilo School of Arts and Trade then joined the volleyball team as a senior. Basketball was a low priority until a first cousin Vernie Villarias convinced him to try out for the University of San Agustin cage team after his high school graduation in 1985. With his athletic ability, Ravena impressed coach Bing Ledesma and made it to the lineup, joining Villarias, Boysie Zamar and Vilmer Banares.

After a year, Ravena left San Agustin and his Iloilo hometown to play for the University of the East under coach Roehl Nadurata in Manila. In 1988, Ravena was picked to play on the national team at the Asian Basketball Confederation (ABC) championships in Bangkok and a year later, saw action for the youth squad under coach Ato Badolato. In 1991, he played in the Jones Cup in Taipei, the ABC tournament in Kobe, and the Southeast Asian Games where the Philippines took the gold in basketball.

In the amateur commercial leagues, Ravena gained valuable experience playing for Swift under Yeng Guiao, Burger City under Mollet Pineda and RC Cola under Joel Banal.

In 1992, Ravena turned pro and was hailed as Samboy Lim, Bong Alvarez, and Vergel Meneses all rolled into one. He played three years for San Miguel Beer then five for Purefoods before moving to the MBA in 1999. Along the way, Ravena was voted the PBA’s Most Improved Player in 1997 after averaging a career-high 11.5 points.

From the MBA, Ravena returned to the PBA via Mobiline, now Talk ‘N’ Text, in 2000. But things weren’t the same as before. Ravena’s numbers dropped precipitously from 7.2 points and 30 minutes a game in 2000 to 3.5 points and 18 minutes in 2001. Then came the low point in his career last year as he played only a game for coach Bill Bayno and four for Paul Woolpert.

Through it all, Ravena never despaired.

Ravena said even as former coach Louie Alas played him sparingly in 2001, he harbored no ill feeling. "Nirerespeto ko si coach Louie at sino mang coach kasi call nila how to use their players," he went on. "Alam ko, ‘di deliberate or personal ang nangyari sa akin. Nagkataon lang iba ang philosophy ni coach Louie at baka sa tingin niya, ‘di ko kaya‘ yun pinagagawa niya sa akin. Basta ako, ready anytime to play. I practice hard even kung ‘di ako ginagamit sa actual game."

Ravena said during his dark moments, he played hard and prayed harder. The important thing was to keep in shape, he continued, so if called on to play, he’d be prepared to go all out.

"Pagsubok lang sa akin ‘yun," he said. "I took it as a challenge. Hindi ako nag-give up. Tuloy pa rin ang laro ko. Ang feeling ko, parang unfair kasi I wasn’t given a chance before. But even if masama ang loob ko, pukpok pa rin sa practice. Ako rin kasi ang mahihirapan if I don’t stay healthy."

When Banal stepped into the Phone Pals picture, Ravena said he begged for one last chance.

"Kinausap ko si Mr. (Ricky) Vargas," said Ravena. "I asked him for just one chance to prove myself. Last card ko na. Tapos, kinausap kaming lahat ni coach Joel isa-isa. Sabi ko, my role has changed from being the main scorer sa MBA to being a support player sa PBA. I accepted the role. Sabi ni coach, I’ll focus on defense and if I get eight to 10 points a game, bonus na ‘yun. I just wanted to regain my confidence. Coach Joel talked to management at sabi niya, kailangan niya ako as a veteran. Iba ang relationship namin ni coach. Noong amateur pa ako, nag-disband ang Burger City at si coach Joel pinulot niya ako sa displaced pool for RC Cola. Nagpapasalamat ako sa kanya for his trust at ‘di siya nag-give up sa akin. Binigyan niya ako ng bagong buhay."

In the just-concluded All-Filipino Cup Finals, Ravena averaged 8.8 points, 3.3 rebounds, 3.0 assists, and 30.5 minutes. He saved his best for the last–in the Game 6 clincher last Sunday, he bagged Best Player honors for compiling 17 points, eight rebounds and two assists in 24 minutes. In the decisive fourth period, Ravena banged in 10 points.

Ravena said he’s played for Talk ‘N’ Text three years and the transformation is evident. "Iba na ang character ng team," he said. "Dati, sa end game, wala kaming fighting spirit. Ngayon, never say die kami, even if we’re down six in the last minute, laban pa rin."

As for his ability to deliver in the clutch, Ravena said he just takes what the defense offers. "Ang play namin starts with Asi (Taulava)," explained Ravena. "Pag may double or triple team, dapat aware kami kasi we might get the pass. May go-signal ako kay coach na tumira kung libre. Role ko is to ease the pressure on Asi. Hindi ko iniisip kung big shot ang ititira ko o hindi. Basta if it’s a good look, I’ll take it."

What about his strange-looking, three-point set shot?

"Natatawa ako pag nakikita ko ang tira ko sa replay," said Ravena. "Sa game, feeling ko, swabeng-swabe ang tira ko, parang Jaworski. Sa totoo, pangit tingnan. Hindi jumpshot, parang alanganin but unexpected kaya kung minsan, hindi nahahabol ng kalaban."

Ravena said the Phone Pals’ title was the fifth in his career. He previously won two at San Miguel and two at Purefoods–one under Chot Reyes in 1994. "First time nag-champion ang Talk ‘N’ Text kaya one of the sweetest ito para sa akin," he said. "Sinagot ang aming dasal ng Panginoon. Sa aming victory party sa Dad’s Glorietta, sabi ni Mr. (Manny) Pangilinan, dinaanan niya lonely nights, pains at heartaches through the years kasi we couldn’t win but it paid off. He’d like to see ang team namin be like San Miguel or Alaska–to build a championship tradition."

Ravena, the second of five children, said he owes his rebirth to the Lord, Talk ‘N’ Text management, Banal, his teammates, and his family–wife Melizza Crisologo, a former University of Santo Tomas varsity volleyball player, and their children Kiefer Isaac, 9, Ferdinand III, 6, and Danielle Theris, 3.

His parents live in Iloilo. Father Ferdinand Sr. is a free lance real estate broker and mother Dolores Villarias works in the City Hall. Sister Mimi, 35, used to work for Sultan Bolkia’s brother in Brunei and now resides in Iloilo. Roy, 29, is employed at the East-West Bank in Iloilo. Randy, 24, works in Honda on Shaw Boulevard and youngest brother Cris, 14, is in high school in Iloilo.