Youthful energy

Gilas Pilipinas huddles at the start of practice. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

Far from the playoff race currently kicking into high gear in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup, Kiefer Ravena began the rehabilitation of his basketball career—one sidetracked by an unfortunate positive test for an illegal substance more than a year ago.

Ravena began training as part of the Gilas Pilipinas training pool Monday night, relishing the opportunity to push the reboot button on his career.

“Hayok na akong mag-practice (I hunger for practice),” Ravena said. “Now I’m here, and I’m around these bunch of guys, I know we’re a hundred percent committed [to] preparing our minds and bodies as a team for the World Cup.

It’s the kind of attitude that has provided a zap of energy for a squad preparing for the World Cup minus some of the faces national team coach Yeng Guiao would have wanted.

“Part of why we really had a good practice today is because they’re just excited playing with each other,” he told reporters shortly after the session.

The youth core, especially, is eager to prove itself with the same thirst that fuels Ravena.

“The returns will favor me anyway,” NorthPort’s Robert Bolick said, echoing fellow rookie CJ Perez’s contention that the pool stint will help the youngsters improve. “As soon as I got the call, for whatever role it was, [I said] I’m in.”

Bolick’s enthusiasm is carrying him through the rigors of double duty. Unlike Ravena, the former San Beda star is very much in touch with the ongoing PBA conference.

His NorthPort squad has a share of the lead in the Commissioner’s Cup and the Batang Pier see action at 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, gunning for a win against Phoenix Pulse that will provide twice-to-beat protection for them in the quarterfinals.

“We need consistency,” NorthPort coach Pido Jarencio said. “The pieces, I believe, are there already. If we can get the consistency that we need, then we have a great chance.”

Jarencio has made it no secret that his team won’t be satisfied with just making the playoffs. They want the championship.

Fighters

And the Batang Pier’s game against the Fuel Masters, which precedes the mammoth matchup between all-Filipino finalists, is crucial, as playing in the shelter of a playoff bonus is a foot inside the semifinals.

“What I got are fighters,” Jarencio said about his players. “Teams need players like them.”

Guiao can only hope that fighting spirit can rub off on the Gilas squad. At the very least, the national coach has the commitment of the likes of Ravena, Bolick and veterans like June Mar Fajardo, RR Pogoy, Japeth Aguilar and Paul Lee.

“Everything here is voluntary. Nobody is being forced to play for the national team,” he said. “This is out of their own volition, own desire to serve the country.”

“All these guys have mother teams and they love their mother teams as much as they love their other commitments that they have,” Guiao added. “But they are still here.”

Ravena, who can’t officially suit up for a game until August due to the Fiba ban, will be eligible to play for the national team by the time the World Cup, which kicks off Aug. 30, rolls around.