Kiefer Ravena and Kevin Ferrer sharing the MVP trophy. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
Kiefer Ravena and Kevin Ferrer had been through countless of battles since their high school days.
And in his final UAAP moment on Saturday, Ravena wouldn’t want to bask in the glory alone.
As Ravena received his second straight MVP award, he called on “one of his closest friends” to join him at center court.
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“I share the award with Kevin. He deserves it too,” said Ravena as he and Ferrer lifted the trophy in a touching moment before a huge crowd anticipating Game 2 of the UAAP men’s basketball Finals between University of Santo Tomas and Far Eastern U.
Only 2.14 points separated Ravena and Ferrer in the statistical race but for the Ateneo star, his classy move was more than about the award.
“We’re one-all when it comes to MVP. He beat me when I was in fourth year high school and I was able to go ahead of him here in our fifth year,” Ravena told reporters.
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“But doing that, it’s just more than the award. It’s more of the companionship and friendship we shared all throughout being great competitors and just wanting to help our school win,” he added. “Those two points, probably, two rebounds, three rebounds of him really getting that MVP off of me.”
Ravena also admired Ferrer’s evolution as a player.
“It’s more than the statistics,” Ravena insisted. “It’s how he represented his school very well and I’m really proud of Kevin. Just growing up watching his style of play. He really evolved into being a good leader.”
University of Santo Tomas will be needing Ferrer to be in his MVP form with the Growling Tigers looking to extend the championship series to a deciding Game 3.