MANILA – Back-to-back champions Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eagles will still have a formidable roster in the UAAP Season 82 men’s basketball.
King Eagle Ferdinand “Thirdy” Ravena III announced that he will play in his fifth and final eligibility year before moving up to the professional ranks.
“I am staying to play one more year for the Blue Eagles,” said Ravena, a native of Iloilo City and two-time UAAP finals MVP.
Ravena tallied career-high 36 points in the Blue Eagles’ 99-81 victory over University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons in Game 2 of the UAAP Season 81 finals last week.
Next year the Blue Eagles will seek their third straight championship.
Thirdy will also have a chance of breaking his older brother Kiefer’s record with Ateneo – two championships in five years.
Twins Matt and Mike Nieto and Raffy Verano also expressed intent to return for another year with Ateneo. Anton Asistio was the only graduating player from this year’s batch.
Blue Eagles coach Tab Baldwin welcomed Thirdy’s decision to stay another year but admitted that the return of senior players alone will not guarantee another UAAP title.
“I think his decision to play for another year bodes well for Ateneo, and it bodes well for Thirdy’s future,” the former Gilas Pilipinas mentor said. “I think we saw him mature this season.”
Baldwin added: “We want to pursue excellence. You know, a championship is one measure of excellence, I guess. So if that’s a byproduct of the way that we do things, we hope that we continue to have championships in the future.
“We talk more about how each one of these guys can be the best player they can be. And it’s not just something we say for the media, it’s what we work on. It’s who we want to be.”/PN
