Kiefer Ravena and Alyssa Valdez address the fans during the Fastbr3ak charity event on Wednesday at Filoil Flying V Arena in San Juan. The event, organized by Ravena and Valdez, raised P500,000 for victims of Typhoon “Nona” which ravaged parts of Luzon nearly two weeks ago. Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
Kiefer Ravena, the former Ateneo Blue Eagle, soared, but not for a breakaway dunk or an acrobatic layup.
Ravena leaped to deliver a spike and it wasn’t during an ordinary volleyball game either as he and fellow two-time UAAP MVP Alyssa Valdez spearheaded and highlighted an entertaining charity match on Wednesday for victims of Typhoon “Nona” (international name: Melor).
The event raised P500,000 which will be donated to the Philippine Red Cross.
“What’s important is we helped those people affected by the typhoon,” said Ravena, who organized his third Fastbreak charity event. “We were not only happy but we made other people happy for the Christmas time and somehow we managed to lift the spirits of the people.”
“Nona” caused P5,2 billion in damages across Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Mimaropa, Calabarzon, Bicol, and Eastern Visayas and killed 42 people.
Valdez hopes the sports community saw what could be achieved when different sports personalities come together for one goal.
“We not only made those survivors happy but I hope the sports community can see the impact when sports come together and see the results for the Philippines also,” said the Ateneo superstar Valdez, whose team trumped Ravena’s in three sets, 22-25, 25-21, 30-28.
“At the end of the day we hope we can make give them joy and what we donated, not just food and money, but also the our love would reach them.”
Multi-titled head coach Roger Gorayeb served as the game’s referee for a change and he provided much of the laughter for the crowd at San Juan Arena.
“I was just playing along with them,” Gorayeb said. “Coaches should also referee but I don’t really put much work in it, this was all for fun, at least the people got to see our lighter side.”
Valdez had the help of Ravena’s mother and Philippine volleyball legend Mozzy Ravena, Dani Ravena, Casey Da Silva, Michelle Gumabao, Michelle Morente, Jen Reyes, Jaja Santiago, Santi Edralin, Ella de Jesus, and IC Mendoza.
Former National University point guard Gelo Alolino and Far Eastern University forward Richard Escoto were also part of the winning squad.
Ravena teamed up with ex-UAAP stars Kevin Ferrer and Russel Escoto, former Lady Eagles’ Denden Lazaro, Jem Ferrer, Charo Soriano and Gretchen Ho, former Adamson standout Bang Pineda, celebrity Yayo Aguila and Djanine Cruz.