Ravena on joining PBA Draft: Only thing left to be done is pass application form

Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

TAIPEI – With the way he talked on Friday night, Kiefer Ravena is in his final tours of duty with Gilas Pilipinas – three tournaments at the most until the end of August – before he comes back as a National player later on as a professional.

“As far as I’m concerned, the only thing left to be done is pass my application form for the (PBA) Draft,” Ravena said before Gilas practice as the Filipinos prepare to slug it out with title favorite Canada 150 at the start of the 39th Jones Cup Invitational in this thriving island.

“There are just some people who would need to know of my decision,” the former UAAP MVP with Ateneo added.

Without a doubt the most decorated amateur in the land today, Ravena will definitely be the No. 1 pick when the rookie proceedings are held sometime in October – unless someone of greater skill and size comes along, which is quite hard to fathom at the moment while looking at the talent in the local collegiate leagues.

“When is the (Draft application) deadline, by the way?” he even asked with a smile.

The 6-foot Ravena is dead set on playing at least two more international events before formalizing everything as he guns for a record no basketball player in the Philippines has ever held.

“If I can make the SEA Games team and we win, I would become the first player to win four gold medals in the event,” he said.

He even named the man with whom he is tied with for the current record.

“Kuya Rommel (Adducul) also won three,” Ravena went on. “I could win it four straight. And that’s a lot compared to the number that my dad won.”

“He only has one,” Kiefer said with a laugh, referring to dad Bong Ravena’s 1991 championship, and the younger Ravena even pointed out that his old man’s only SEAG title came 20 years before he won the first of his three.

Bong Ravena didn’t have the chance to win more as he turned pro the following year to win top rookie honors that season in the PBA after upsetting eventual all-time great Vergel Meneses.

And should Kiefer make his decision final after the Fiba Asia in Lebanon and SEAG in Kuala Lumpur, he is about to put one over his dad again in the PBA Draft, with Bong selected fifth overall by San Miguel in 1992.

Like the SEAG medal count, Kiefer’s old man will again have no chance to get even with him on this one.