FILE – Kiefer Ravena. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines — Kiefer Ravena may be months away from joining Shiga in the Japan B.League but the Lakestars have made it clear that the crack Filipino guard is a significant piece to their goal of winning the championship in the upcoming season.
In a statement released Saturday just hours after Ravena was finally given the go-signal to play in the B.League, Shiga described the former Gilas Pilipinas captain as an “indispensable force.”
“We are pleased to inform you that we will join Shiga Lakestars after the PBA Philippine Cup,” the club said. “We apologize for the inconvenience that we have not been able to report on Ravena’s situation since we postponed the press conference.”
Shiga was supposed to hold a presser last June 7 to officially announce the signing of Ravena.
But the event was scrapped after the PBA disallowed Ravena from suiting up due to his preexisting contract with the NLEX Road Warriors.
“Ravena, a PG who knows the world stage as a representative of the Philippines, is an indispensable force for Shiga Lakestars to advance to the championship this season,” the statement read.
Ravena will be able to join Shiga once NLEX’s campaign in the ongoing Philippine Cup ends.
The all-Filipino Conference is expected to end in October while the new B.League season is scheduled to tip off on Oct. 2.