Thirdy Ravena focused on winning, making teammates better

Ateneo’s Thirdy Ravena reads UST’s defense in the UAAP Season 79 men’s basketball tournament Sunday, Sept. 4, 2016, at Smart Araneta Coliseum. Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

Is Thirdy Ravena ready to step into the role his older brother Kiefer left in Ateneo?

The 19-year-old would rather not think about it.

“It’s more of focusing on the best things I can to help my team and help my teammates be better. And of course, win,” he said.

It may be too big of a role to fill given Kiefer won two UAAP championships and a couple of MVP awards, but if Thirdy’s numbers in Ateneo’s 73-69 victory over UST on Sunday would serve as any indication, it seems like he’s up to the task.

He finished with a double-double of 17 points and 11 rebounds in his return to the Blue Eagles after missing a year due to academic deficiencies.

Ravena is relishing this chance to don the blue-and-white anew, as he and teammate Aaron Black will be counted on to lead Ateneo back in the Final Four.

“It feels good to play once again for the school and the community. It’s a good thing that the game went well. UST was great, but buti na lang, na-stop namin sila,” he said.

The game also showed a glimpse of what the future holds for the Blue Eagles, with Ravena and Black forming a 1-2 punch for coach Tab Baldwin.

Ravena, though, thinks its irrelevant to label anyone from the team as the next King Eagle.

“A label’s just a label. Ang importante, we work as a team,” he said.

“Sa totoo lang, di ko naman kaya mag-isa. Hindi rin kaya ni Aaron mag-isa. So we have to trust each other, trust the process, work hard every game, and make sure everyone’s in the system.”