ITINALAGA ni Gilas Pilipinas interim coach Mark Dickel si NLEX guard Kiefer Ravena bilang captain ng national team na sasabak sa FIBA Asia Cup 2021 qualifiers ngayong buwan.
Pinangungunahan ni Ravena ang koponan na binubuo ng pinaghalong young stars at PBA veterans, kabilang sina TNT’s Troy Rosario at Roger Pogoy, at Marc Pingris ng Magnolia.
Kabilang sa young players na bahagi ng pool ay ang nakababatang kapatid ni Ravena na si Thirdy, magkapatid na Juan at Javi Gomez de Liano, at University of the Philippines standout Kobe Paras.“I have a lot of confidence in Kiefer,” wika ni Dickel. “I think he can be a world class point guard, and my job during this window is to start getting that out of him.”
“I’ve seen him do it numerous times for NLEX. I thought he was excellent last conference, really took them on his shoulders. There’s no reason he can’t do it here (Gilas),” dagdag pa niya.
Masaya namang tinanggap ni Ravena ang hamon.
“May pressure but hindi ko inaako ang lahat, humihingi rin ako ng tulong from the PBA guys, especially kay Kuya Ping,” ani Ravena.
“Andiyan din sila Troy (Rosario), RR (Pogoy), CJ (Perez), kaming apat na nag-World Cup, kahit paano alam namin kung ano ‘yung highest level of international basketball so tulungan lang,” dagdag pa niya.
Makakasagupa ng Gilas ang Thailand sa home para sa unang laro nito sa qualifiers sa February 20, pagkatapos ay makakaharap ang Indonesia sa road sa February 23. CLYDE MARIANO
