Photo by Tristan Tamayo/ INQUIRER.net
BOCAUE — Kiefer Ravena felt relieved that this Christmas, he only had to deal with one of GlobalPort’s two-headed monster in Stanley Pringle and not the full experience on Monday.
“I’m glad that it’s just Stan,” NLEX’s second overall pick in the 2017 PBA Rookie Draft said in Filipino after NLEX’s 115-104 win over GlobalPort. “If you add Terrence (Romeo) there, it will be much, much harder for us.”
But even if the Batang Pier only had Pringle with Terrence Romeo still recovering from his knee contusion injury, Ravena admitted it was still a tough challenge for him facing the 2015 Rookie of the Year.
“It’s still hard to guard Stan. It’s hard to contain Stan that way,” he said after Pringle unloaded 33 points, 10 rebounds, and four assists in the game. “At least, we only had to deal with one of them as the focal point of GlobalPort’s offense.”
Ravena, meanwhile, continued to impress, this time, collecting, 20 points, two rebounds, five assists and four steals.
He is also grateful for coming out with a victory on Christmas day especially with his family and girlfriend Alyssa Valdez in attendance.
“It’s always nice to go home after a win, no matter how it was won. Everybody wanted a win because you don’t want to travel all the way here in the Philippine Arena, a great environment, to just play and not give it your 100 percent. We all wanted that Christmas gift which is a win,” he said.
Going 2-0 early this 2018 PBA Philippine Cup may not mean much, but Ravena is looking at this stretch as a confidence-builder for NLEX as it guns for more wins to come in 2018.
“It’s nice to play on a Christmas Day, and it was nice for us to win and celebrate for the holidays. Hopefully, we can continue this,” he said.
The Road Warriors return to action on January 7 against the Phoenix Fuel Masters.