MANILA – Ilonggo Kiefer Ravena will not be part of the NLEX Road Warriors team that will compete in the resumption of the 2021 Philippine Basketball Association’s (PBA) Philippine Cup next month in Bacolor, Pampanga, as he has already went to Japan on Wednesday morning.
“He will fly to Japan to process his visa, immigration and other B. League requirements since the Japan government set a deadline for all imports entry for the B. League,” according to Road Warriors official Ronald Dulatre.
“After completing all requirements, he will come back here to play the remaining games of NLEX, but there is no definite date owing to the quarantine protocols,” Dulatre added.
The 27-year-old Ravena was Road Warriors’ second highest scorer after four games, averaging 15.75 points, 3.75 rebounds, 6.50 assists, 1.75 steals, and 0.50 blocks in 29.65 minutes of action. His absence is a major setback for the squad, which is now in the middle of the standings with a 2-2 win-loss record.
Ravena’s move also goes against his previous agreement with the team and PBA, which stated that he would play the rest of the Philippine Cup before joining the Shiga Lakestars.
The Lakestars announced Ravena’s signing under the Asian Player Quota in June, but the PBA rejected it due to Ravena’s previous contract with the Road Warriors.
He is one of the many Filipino players who have signed up to play in the B. League aside from Thirdy Ravena (San-En NeoPhoenix), Bobby Ray Parks Jr. (Nagoya Dolphins), Juan Gómez de Liaño (Earth Friends Tokyo Z), Javier Gómez de Liaño (Ibaraki Robots), and Kemark Carino (Aomori Wat)./PN
