Still in Fiba freezer, Kiefer Ravena vows to help Gilas any way he can

MANILA, Philippines— Kiefer Ravena is set to lend Gilas Pilipinas a helping hand in its eight-day training camp in Europe. But most of his contributions will be off the court.

“I won’t be able to play in Spain but I’ll do my best to help the team. I guess I’ll be the number one cheerleader out there,” he told a handful of reporters on the eve of the team’s flight for Spain, where they will be training for the Fiba World Cup in China later this month.

“We’re still cooperating with the sanction,” he added. “It’s not yet really over. Technically I still can’t play until the 24th.”

Ravena is still serving a Fiba suspension after testing positive for a substance under the World Anti-Doping Agency’s prohibited list. He was cleared to join the Nationals’ practices last June 24.

“I just got to be mentally tough,” he said of his predicament. “Unfortunately, there’s a limit to the things I can do.”

Gilas will be fielding only 10 men in its tuneup games with Congo and Ivory Coast in Guadalajara and then again in Madrid where they could also play host Spain. The Filipinos’ manpower took a hit after Marcio Lassiter’s injury and Raymond Almazan’s visa denial.

On top of that, the talent pool will be missing a handful of key cogs to the PBA Finals between San Miguel Beer and TNT, where league MVP June Mar Fajardo, along with Roger Pogoy and Troy Rosario are competing.

And that’s also one reason Ravena feels he has to contribute doubly harder through other means.

“We’ll be left to fend for ourselves there,” he said.

“We’ll be needing all the hands we could get,” Ravena added. “I think at this moment, it’s the little things that would matter the most. That would be my focus for now, even if it’s just carrying bags, helping the ball boys.”

Gilas is also set to miss its other assistant coach Ford Arao, also due to visa woes, and physical therapist Dex Aseron due to PBA Finals.

Still, Ravena assured that he will be putting in the work from the sidelines, as he will be free to join the fray when Gilas returns to Manila for a couple more friendlies.

.”I still have to do my assignment, I have to work out and stay in shape. It’s not a vacation for me. All these guys made their sacrifices—it’s the offseason for them right now,” he said.

“I have been ‘parked’ for the past 18 months. They haven’t been resting. I have to work my butt off,” he went on.

“I have to really focus on the little things while I’m not able to play yet,” he added. “[In] our journey to the World Cup, the little things will matter the most. Those small things will eventually pile up and make the bigger picture—the results.”