B.League’s Shiga postpones Kiefer Ravena presser amid contract row

Photo from Shiga Lakestars Twitter

MANILA, Philippines — B.League club Shiga decided to postpone its press conference that would’ve marked Kiefer Ravena’s first official function with the franchise.

The Lakestars said that doing a press conference with Ravena would only compound the situation that has surrounded the player for the past several days.

“We have decided to postpone the press conference until a more appropriate time, as holding a press conference with Ravena and us at this time may add more confusion of the situation. We will continue discussions to resolve this issues,” said the Japanese club in a statement.

Ravena was introduced on June 2 as Shiga’s Asian import for the 2021-22 season but the PBA–three days later–said its board of governors has decided to not allow the guard to join the Japanese club and that he has to honor his preexisting contract with NLEX and the league’s Uniformed Player’s Contract (UPC).

“On June 2nd we had an official announcement of signing Kiefer Ravena for the 2021-2022 season. However, after the announcement, it was reported in the Philippines that there are issues in his current contract.”

The Road Warriors signed Ravena to a three-year deal back in September 2020. The UPC also gives the league a foothold on Ravena’s playing rights as contracts in the PBA are tripartite agreements.

The PBA has also reached out to the B.League imploring Ravena to honor his contract with NLEX and then scrapped the move entirely.

Ravena was supposed to suit up for the Lakestars under the B.League’s Asian Players Quota that would’ve made him the second Filipino to play in Japan’s premier basketball association after his younger brother Thirdy, who signed a multiyear deal to remain with the San-En NeoPhoenix last month.