More than the duel with Parks, Ravena glad to help NLEX win

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MANILA, Philippines—Kiefer Ravena was swift at driving a point after his first PBA face-off with Ray Parks Jr. on Sunday night.

The pair of celebrated young talents locked horns in a Governors’ Cup match at Sta. Rosa Multipurpose Complex in Laguna with NLEX pulling out the victory for a 3-0 start in the conference.

“I guess it’s a long time coming,” said Ravena, who was the second-best scorer for the Road Warriors with a near all-around game.

Parks had with 28 for the Elite, 18 coming in a blistering third quarter effort that kept his team in the thick of things.

Ravena and Parks are–in a way–cut from the same cloth. Both athletes are second-generation stars. The two were highly-touted amateurs in the UAAP. They both went for the NBA dream—albeit through different approaches. They also served the national cause—playing in SEABA, multiple editions of the SEA Games, and FIBA World Cup qualifying windows.

Sunday’s match was the first time they met since playing against each other in the collegiate circuit.

But Ravena said there is one more similarity he and Parks share.

“More than anything else, you can throw all the stats away,” Ravena said. “I’m sure (Ray) will agree. The most important thing is carrying [the team] to victory.”

Ravena had three points less than Parks but made himself felt more in the tussle.

Playing only in his third PBA game since his return from a FIBA suspension that spanned for more than a year, Ravena plucked down seven rebounds and dished out seven assists against Parks’ four boards and six dimes.

“He beat us when I wasn’t playing. Now we’re even after we beat (Blackwater),” he added.

“As long as both of us are good competitors, great competitors, we wouldn’t care less about our stats,” Ravena said. “As long as we win.”