Kiefer Ravena: Love at first sight

 MANILA (Philippines) - "I would say love at first sight, it was that kind of experience for me. "

Kiefer Ravena said with a big grin in a recent interview on @FIBAAsiaCup Instagram.

The statement was not a romantic statement about his girlfriend as we are closing in on Valentine’s Day, but instead was about his affection for basketball.

The 27-year-old has long been one of the most promising prospects in the Philippines and is now coming into his own as a star and veteran for the Philippines national team. He already played in the first window of the Asia Cup Qualifiers and is hopeful to make the team for the upcoming window.

“ I think Gilas is just a symbol of unity. Gilas is a symbol of hope for everybody especially in the Philippines.

And it all started when he was just only a little toddler.

"I started playing basketball when I was 4 and grew up in a family of athletes. My mom was on the national team for volleyball and my dad used to be a professional basketball player as well, so it wasn’t really hard for me to love the sport."

Basketball is already as close to what a sport can get to a religion in the Philippines, so when you have a professional basketball player as a father like Kiefer did, playing basketball was a no-brainer.

It also surely helped that Bong Ravena, Kiefer’s father, was a really good player himself.

"It was amazing. He was actually the first one to really tell me, personally, that doesn’t me to watch him play. "

"He told me that there are many other better players than him," Kiefer said with a laugh. "But, of course, he was my idol growing up. He was the biggest influence in my career, paving the way for me in basketball and he was surrounded by great players throughout his career winning championships here and there for different organizations. It’s also something that I want to hopefully do, winning a lot of championships in my career. "

The senior Ravena was a crafty player back in his day and you can shades of that game every time Kiefer takes the court. While some part of that might have been passed down genetically, those 1-on-1 games young Kiefer had with his dad in his youth must have also helped developing this "craftiness".

"During the start, it was all fun and games, but it really gave me the motivation to work hard and eventually beat him, " Kiefer recalled. "When I was in high school and I really developed as a player and improved a lot, I would say that’s when I really started to beat him. Of course, I already beat him when he retired when he was out of shape so I had the big advantage already. "

Those 1-on-1 games were not only limited to "Kuya Bong" vs Kiefer match ups. Young Kiefer also had his tussles with his young brother, Thirdy, growing up as well.

Most of the times, the games ended before they expected.

"A lot of times we weren’t able to finish out 1-on-1s because it was already too much. It was just two competitive guys going at it, but of course it's a battle for pride to say that ‘I’m a big brother I don’t want to lose’ and he has to prove a point with me as his older brother. It’s just fun to go at him and it’s safe to say that it helps that we have the same mindset especially every time we play against each other.”

After what must have been countless of hours going at each other wherever there was a basket, the two finally got the chance to play with each other for the first time as members of the national team at a FIBA competition last February.

"That was crazy," said Kiefer. "It’s just a dream come true for the both of us but most importantly especially for our parents with us being together in one court especially playing for the national team."

"I think it’s safe to say that my parents raised us really well. I think my parents were really able to be successful in raising great people and of course good basketball players. It’s a testimony on just how following your parents can really get you somewhere. I just guess it was really fun to be out there with [Thirdy] and hopefully that won’t be the last time that we’ll be representing the country."

In a basketball crazed country like the Philippines, playing for the national team is considered one of the highest honors for an individual. When the national team plays, it’s not just a basketball game. It’s comes close to being a national holiday.

"…Gilas unites everybody out here in the Philippines. I think besides a boxing match of Manny Pacquiao, it’s Gilas who can really stop everybody from doing something to just watch and support one team."

Therefore, even though this won’t be the first time Ravena wears the national team jersey if or when he makes the cut, it’s still just as special.

"As soon as I wore my first ever national team jersey when I was 13, every time an opportunity is presented to me to feel that feeling again, I can never say no. It’s always an opportunity for me to represent the country, to represent 100 other millions of Filipinos who love supporting Gilas."

It is especially in these specific times that Ravena feels makes it a great honor to put on that journey.

"I think Gilas is just a symbol of unity. Gilas is a symbol of hope for everybody especially in the Philippines. We’re going through some tough times, everybody in the world, and I think with this opportunity to play for Gilas here in this window, we can give hope to a lot of people."

The Philippines are currently undefeated after playing three games in the Asia Cup Qualifiers. Their path looks bright heading towards an Asia Cup 2021 berth. However, they will be playing three more games in the upcoming third window in Qatar.

Two of those games will be against long-time rivals Korea, who have broken the hearts of Filipino basketball fans time and again for years.

"I’ve only faced Korea once internationally," Kiefer said of his personal experience in the rivalry. "I think it was the jones cup in 2016 but it was an experience that I’ll always  remember because us Filipinos never really had good memories against Korea expect for the one in 2013 where we finally pushed through and we were finally able to beat them."

That moment was, of course, when Jimmy Alapag knocked down a dagger three-pointer late in the game to clinch a victory for the Philippines and propel them to the Final. For Philippines basketball fans, it was one of those moments where you probably remember where you were and what you were doing at the exact moment.

"…when coach Jimmy made that 3 to really seal the game, I was just at the venue shouting and probably, I’m not sure if I shed a tears or two. Being together with everybody in the building, just seeing the players on the court, how exhausted they were, and actually relieved of finally being able to push through that ghost of Korea that’s always been a problem for us Filipinos. When that happened, it was a sigh of relief for everybody and we were so proud of being a Filipino."

"Of course, ever since that already happened, you want to replicate that experience every single time you face them. The rivalry has always and will continue to be there especially in the Asia level when it comes to the Philippines against Korea. I’m just so excited to play against them and really see what we can show against a really experienced national team in Korea."

Ravena and Gilas will also be playing one more game against Indonesia on February 20. The first time these two faced in the Qualifiers, the Philippines claimed a comfortable win of 100-70. However, the rematch will be a bit different with the addition of Lester Prosper and Brandon Jawato for Indonesia.

"It’s going to be big for Indonesia to have those guys," he said. "It was their first time to really play for Indonesia in the last window and now that they’ve had the time to get together to prepare for this window, it’s actually going to be scary for the teams who will play against Indonesia from now on because the more time they get to play together, the more chemistry and the more familiar they get in terms of playing with one another. They have an Olympian as a coach with coach Raijko Toroman and with their basketball federation’s all out support for them, it’s safe to say that Indonesia will be back to competing for championship games."

"That’s also a sign for us Filipinos that we cant take anything for granted. We never did anyways, but it’s a reminder for us to always be on our toes. Basketball is evolving and if you want to stay on top, you have to work twice or thrice as hard as everybody else."

This falls in line with a teaching he has received from father ever since he was young. It’s a piece of advice that the younger Kiefer Ravena takes to heart to this day.

"Respect the game."

"That’s the one thing I try to think every time I play basketball whether I’m playing in an official game or a pick up game, playing for the national team or playing for my club team."

"You don’t choose your opponents even if you want to take a rest on that certain game. You play - as the cliché goes you know - you have to play the game as if it’s your last so that’s how I leaned how to play the game. That’s how I’ll continue to play till my career ends."

The future of basketball in the Philippines is shining brightly.

They are on track to qualify for the Asia Cup. They have Kiefer Ravena as a budding leader on the squad. They have a deep, deep talent pool to pick and choose from. They have one of the best young prospects in the World in Kai Sotto.

"I’d say that the biggest chance for us Filipinos of having a first ever player going to the NBA is really Kai," said Ravena.

More importantly, the Philippines will be co-hosting the largest platform of competition in basketball in 2023 - the FIBA Basketball World Cup.

"That’s going to be awesome, that’s going to be great, imagining the highest level of basketball will be held here in the Philippines. We’ve hosted some historic events out here in the Philippines whether it’s in the past like the recent SEA Games or the other FIBA Asia tournaments, but the World Cup is definitely different. Hopefully, everything is back to normal by 2023 so that we can bring in the best of the best. So people can have  fun watching the games live. They deserve to have a good time especially with what’s happening."

"Just excited to be a part of this program, given a chance to represent the country, playing for the world cup. Not a lot of people can say that."

"More than anything else with the Gilas cadets right now, the future of Philippines basketball is really bright. All of the PBA guys, myself, we’re just doing everything to contribute and hopefully teach the younger guys a thing or two and just have a chance to play for this country."

"It’s just going to be great. It’s something to really look forward to."

"But again for now, eyes are on the present ahead of us."

Make sure to check out the full talk with Kiefer Ravena for more on his favorite movie, music, number and more on FIBA Asia Cup IGTV!

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