As Kiefer stays, Shiga calls off introduction of Gilas star
Kiefer Ravena. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
Japanese ball club Shiga Lakestars shelved an introductory presser featuring Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) star Kiefer Ravena originally set for Monday knowing that it will not have the standout Gilas Pilipinas guard playing there in the very near future.
“We have decided to postpone the press conference until a more appropriate time,” the team announced on its website on the eve of the event.
“Holding a press conference with Ravena … at this time may add more confusion to the situation,” the statement further read.
That obviously is the best decision since the PBA had made an announcement late Saturday afternoon that it will not, in any way, release Ravena while he has a live contract with NLEX that will run until the end of the 2023 Season.
Chair Ricky Vargas, who represents TNT in the PBA board, also said that they will communicate with the Japanese pro league to inform them of the PBA’s decision.
“The communication will be factual—it will be exactly the situation of Kiefer, a player of NLEX and as a member of the PBA organization—nothing less and nothing more. That he has a contract, that is the biggest deal there,” said vice chair and Terrafirma governor Bobby Rosales.
Shiga assured that it will be working hand in hand with Asia’s pioneering pro league to reach a resolution.
The Lakestars on Wednesday announced that it has signed Ravena as an Asian import for the 2021-2022 season. PBA officials invoked the sanctity of a contract, saying that breaking a pact poses a “difficult precedence” which would also affect the International Basketball Federation (Fiba).
“Fiba is also very strict with regards to adhering to contracts,” said Vargas.
“It was a discussion. It was not a one-minute decision. The board, in all of its wisdom, looked at all scenarios and the risk of these scenarios and came out with the decision that it is best that we follow—strictly—the policy of not breaking contracts as we thought that there are more negatives if we allow such to happen today,” he went on.
Vargas said the PBA is focusing on “the issue at hand, which is whether [Ravena] can break contract or not.” INQ
