Kiefer Ravena is a basketball free agent. He probably won’t be making a return to the PBA anyway.
But no, it’s not the PBA’s fault. It’s strictly a business decision for Ravena, who evidently wants to take the overseas route as long as his body can do it—and as long as teams are interested in him.
“’Yung plans ko naman moving forward, I think I still want to play overseas. I think my body wants to play overseas. I think my body can still play overseas. But yeah, I’m going back to Japan next season,” Ravena told reporters on Saturday. The former Yokohama B-Corsairs player is back in the Philippines for the B.League Final Week.
From the looks of it, the 32-year-old former NLEX Road Warrior is staying in the B.League, telling reporters to just wait for further news about it.
“I just ended my contract with Yokohama. So, I’m switching to another team next season. I can’t say where but abangan niyo na lang yung news na ’yan…,” Ravena said. “Hopefully I get to a team wherein it’s an easy adjustment. Siyempre, I want my family with me as much as I can. So, ’yun siguro ang mga hinahanap ko more than anything else para makapaglaro pa overseas.”
Last season, playing for the Yokohama, Kiefer Ravena averaged 11.9 points on 51.3% shooting, on top of 1.8 rebounds, 3.2 assists, and 0.8 steal in 22.9 minutes of action. Suffice to say, he probably won’t be lacking suitors.
Kiefer Ravena in the PBA Again?
To be clear, Kiefer Ravena didn’t exactly rule out a return. But it appears that’s only going to happen when he isn’t good enough to net playing opportunities overseas.
“Of course not,” Ravena replied when asked if he’s shunning the PBA completely. “I’m just trying to maximize my career right now. I’ve always loved playing with NLEX, and I really owe a lot to the management, to the team. For now, of course, I gotta think of myself and maximizing my opportunities overseas.”
Ravena, who was a former Gilas Pilipinas mainstay as well, also hinted that Japan will be the first option due to its competitiveness—something Ravena says is a by-product of basketball’s ever-changing landscape.
“Basketball has changed a lot, landscape and then how it’s being played, especially out in Japan, competition-wise. Habang kaya pa ng katawan, kaya pa ng utak maglaro, adi subok lang ng subok,” Ravena pointed out. “Siyempre, you want to plan as much as you can for the future, but at the same time, you can’t look too far ahead… I just want to make the most out of the opportunities.”
In other words, when the overseas well finally runs dry for Kiefer Ravena and he still thinks he can play, it’s possible that a return to the PBA will finally happen.
