Kiefer looks at rare five-peat

Kiefer Ravena gets his shot at a personal five-peat, Chris Ross his long-desired debut for Gilas Pilipinas, and Matthew Wright and Marcio Lassiter their return to national duties after being forced out of action by injuries in the last FIBA Basketball World Cup.

The four, along with eight veterans named by coach Tim Cone to his final roster, carry a variety of motivation as they suit up for Team Philippines in Southeast Asian Games men’s basketball tournament.

Ravena, who came on board when Jayson Castro suffered an injury, got the nod for his fifth SEAG stint as first-time national cager Ross, and balik-Gilas Lassiter and Wright made the final cut in the all-pro team assembled by Cone for the Dec. 4-10 Games at the MOA Arena.

They join forces with 2017 gold medalists Christian Standhardinger and Troy Rosario, World Cuppers June Mar Fajardo and RR Pogoy, Cone’s Ginebra stalwarts LA Tenorio, Stanley Pringle and Japeth Aguilar, and Vic Manuel.

Cone chose the Final 12 Friday night from a short-list of 15 that’s been training weekly since Sept. 30. Cut by the two-time grand slam champion coach are three Gin Kings in Greg Slaughter, Scottie Thompson and Arthur dela Cruz.

Samahang Basketball ng Pilipinas president Al Panlilio expressed confidence Cone’s SEA Games crew will get the job done.

“The coaching staff led by coach Tim Cone are doing a great job preparing the team for the upcoming SEA Games and they had the unenviable task of trimming the lineup down to just 12 individuals,” said Panlilio.

“Although the decision was surely not easy, the SBP has complete trust in the team and we’re excited to defend our crown as the best basketball team in the region,” added the SBP chief, who called on Filipinos to rally the cagers at the games.

Gilas is slated to go full blast in practice by the 28th or once the mainstays are done with their respective PBA team’s bid in the Governors’ Cup quarterfinals.

The Filipino dribblers take on Singapore at the start of Group A hostilities on Dec. 4, with Vietnam up next on Dec. 6 and Myanmar the following night.