Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
Thirdy Ravena is not looking at the National Basketball Association just yet.
“I’m just thinking about developing myself as a basketball player and my main focus is to play internationally—not necessarily in the NBA immediately,” the three-time UAAP champion and Finals most valuable player said on Wednesday.
Ravena opted not to declare for the PBA draft last November, a track his older brother also took out of college. After a colorful stint with Ateneo, Kiefer Ravena tried his luck with the Texas Legends—the Dallas Mavericks’ D-League affiliate—in 2016. He returned back home a year later and then became the second overall pick of the PBA draft via NLEX.
Right now, the younger Ravena is set to bolster a loaded Mighty Sports club led by Fiba World Cup veterans Andray Blatche and Renaldo Balkman, and teen NBA hopeful Kai Sotto.
The athletic swingman is also part of the 24-man pool for Gilas Pilipinas, which will vie in the Fiba Asia Cup 2021 qualifiers starting next month.
Ravena said he is also mulling stints in Japan and other Asian leagues.
The son of TNT coach and former PBA star Bong said he has also received offers to play in Australia and New Zealand.
“I just want to make sure I’m on the right track,” he said. “This is a critical stage in my career.”
“I think the next five years will dictate where I’ll be in life. I just have to make sure that I am able to make the most out of the opportunities. For now, [an NBA] opportunity hasn’t cropped up, so I’m putting all of my focus on the tournaments where I’m due to play.”