Photo by Tristan Tamayo/ INQUIRER.net
With everyone expecting big things from Kiefer Ravena, Paul Lee knew he needed to deliver the goods for Magnolia in its clash against NLEX on Sunday.
After all, it was no less than his former coach Yeng Guiao, who compared the two guards.
That’s why Lee couldn’t help but share everyone’s excitement over the clash.
“I was excited because this will be the first time that we’ll meet,” Lee said in Filipino. “For a coach to say those things, it means that he saw something different on the kid.”
It turns out, Lee didn’t need really need to do so much as he got ample support from his teammates in the Hotshots’ 105-94 victory over the Road Warriors. He still led the charge for Magnolia with 21 points, three rebounds and four assists for his team’s third win in four games.
Lee now understands all the hype surrounding Ravena, seeing first hand how good the former Ateneo stalwart is.
“Kiefer is really good and he’s very promising. If you don’t know him and it’s your first time to watch him play, you’ll think that he’s been in the league for so long,” he said.
Ravena dove to the challenge head first and captained the Road Warriors pouring in a new career-best 31 points, to go with four boards and five dimes.
With that performance in mind, Lee has no doubt that Ravena will go a long way in his basketball career.
”He’s very talented and gifted. He’s already ripe, and for sure, his future is bright here in the PBA,” he said.