MANILA – Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eagles star Ferdinand “Thirdy” Ravena III got a call up to join the Gilas Pilipinas in the final window of the 2019 FIBA World Cup qualifier slated next month.
The Iloilo City native has been called up for the national men’s basketball team with the 14-man pool hit with injuries in Jeth Troy Rosario, Raymond Almazan and Christian Standhardinger.
Gilas head coach Joseller “Yeng” Guiao said the addition of Ravena was not a mere stunt as he sees the Blue Eagles star having a chance to crack at the 12-man lineup.
“Gives them a lot of confidence, they learn a lot from the players, and aside from the fact that they have a real chance of making the team. We are investing in the next generation of players,” Guiao said.
He added: “May chance siya and at the same time, it’s a chance for them, an opportunity to improve, an opportunity to for them to prepare themselves if they don’t make it for the next generation for the national team.”
Ravena was the fourth amateur player to be included by Guiao in the Gilas Pilipinas pool since being tapped as national team mentor aside from Ateneo Blue Eaglets’ Kai Sotto and University of the Philippines Maroons’ Ricci Rivero and Kobe Paras.
Gilas is currently at fourth place in Group F with a 5-5 record and still have a good chance of qualifying for the FIBA World Cup in September but cannot afford to lose their last two games against Qatar and Kazakhstan./PN
