Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
Gilas Pilipinas overcame a three games in four days gauntlet the past week, eking out narrow wins over PBA teams as part of its buildup for the Jones Cup.
The tune-up games were also beneficial for amateur standouts on the team like Kiefer Ravena, who was able to gauge himself against some of the top professional players in the country.
“Being in this type of position for me, personally, allows me to see where I am, where to improve on and helps me in making a decision of making it into the draft already,” said Ravena.
The 23-year-old Ravena has yet to decide whether he would declare for this year’s PBA Draft.
Based on Ravena’s performance in the exhibition games, he proved he can roll with the big boys.
Throughout his young basketball career, Ravena is known for his ability to flourish under pressure-packed situations and he made no exceptions during the tuneups.
Against NLEX, the former Ateneo star set up Fil-German Christian Standhardinger for the game-winning basket before burying the go-ahead triple to sink Alaska three days later.
With his skill set, potential and winning pedigree, Ravena is considered as one of the top draft prospects if he joins the class of 2017 along with versatile guard Ray Parks.