Jeron-Kiefer rivalry continues in PBA: ‘It brings back the good old days’

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Years removed from their countless battles in the collegiate ranks, Kiefer Ravena and Jeron Teng met once again, this time, in the professional stage when NLEX and Alaska faced off in the 2018 PBA Philippine Cup on Sunday.

The Road Warriors pulled off the 96-89 victory, but for some, the duel looked like a continuation of the two young stars’ rivalry.

“It brings back the good old days,” said Teng, who finished with 12 points and three rebounds. “Even though we’re no longer in college, one can’t take away the Ateneo in him and the La Salle in me.

Ravena, who also got 12 markers that went with six rebounds and 10 assists, said that playing against Teng fuels his competitive fire and pride to always want to come out on top.

“The pride is always there, having that Ateneo-La Salle rivalry for four years, playing against each other, we really know each other well,” he said.

But it’s not just the rivalry that they share but also a bond, having been teammates as a member of the Philippine under-16 team in 2009 and Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas in the 2017 Fiba Asia Champions Cup.

“Tendency-wise, we know each other. I know what he will do and he knows what I can do. We only guarded each other for a while, but I know the rivalry will never go away,” said Ravena, who is just thankful that Teng once again brought the best in him in the face-off.

“It will always be a side story of our rivalry and we’re very blessed to be part of that rivalry. There’s a lot of Ateneo and La Salle players who have been in the PBA, and you know, with us the new guys, I think we can renew the spark of Ateneans and La Sallians making a name for themselves in the PBA.”

Teng, meanwhile, is looking forward to the next time he plays Ravena again.

“We just need to get one over them next time,” he said.