Kiefer puts NBA dreams aside – for now | ABS-CBN

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Kiefer puts NBA dreams aside – for now

Kiefer puts NBA dreams aside – for now

Camille B. Naredo,

ABS-CBN News

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Kiefer Ravena speaks during the send-off for the Philippine 3x3 team. Richard Esguerra, ABS-CBN Sports

MANILA, Philippines – Kiefer Ravena's dreams of making it to the NBA will have to be put on hold, at least for now, as the former Ateneo de Manila University star is instead focusing his energies on helping the Philippine men's national basketball team.

Ravena spent a big chunk of 2016 and early 2017 in the United States, where he got a call up to be a practice player for the Texas Legends of the NBA D-League. Since then, he's had stints for Mighty Sports and Alab Pilipinas in the ASEAN Basketball League.

On Friday, he is set to fly to France together with Kobe Paras, Jeron Teng, and JR Quiñahan for the 2017 FIBA 3x3 World Cup in Nantes. Upon his return, he will join Gilas Pilipinas for its practices ahead of the Southeast Asian Games and the FIBA Asia Cup in August.

Ravena's packed basketball schedule leaves little time for the two-time UAAP Most Valuable Player to chase his NBA dreams, and this is a trade-off that the "Phenom" is willing to make.

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"Pag dito ako, committed ako dito sa ginagawa ko," Ravena said Wednesday during the send-off for the Philippine 3x3 national team. "Dito muna lang ako."

"I mean, it's a dream," he said of the NBA. "It's still ongoing, hindi ko siya ginive up. You just have to put things into perspective, and sometimes, you have to put things aside muna."

[I'm committed to what I'm doing right now with Gilas. The NBA dream is on-going, and I haven't given it up. But you just have to put things into perspective, and sometimes, you have to put things aside.]

Ravena said that now, his call-up to Gilas Pilipinas is what is important.

"It feels great to be part of it again," said Ravena, who has represented the country numerous times in international tournaments, including the Southeast Asian Games. "It's something that you dream of – playing for your country."

"I have this opportunity again to compete and join whatever tournament I can join for Gilas. Hopefully, magawa ko," he added.

Gilas Pilipinas resumes its practices on June 20, with both Ravena and Paras called up along with the cadets. However, both Ravena and Paras will be late to join the team, as they will return from the FIBA 3x3 World Cup on June 22.

"This will be a good preparation," Ravena said of their World Cup stint. "Kahit na male-late kami sa (June) 20, sa practice, at least ito, games talaga ang nalalaro namin."

[Even if we're late to the Gilas practices, at least we're playing in actual games.]

(For more sports coverage, visit the ABS-CBN Sports website.)

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