Filipino import Thirdy Ravena on the cover of Dabudori, a basketball magazine in Japan.
MANILA, Philippines—Thirdy Ravena continues to carve his path in Japan as he got featured on the cover of basketball magazine Dabudori.
The San-en NeoPhoenix star is the cover for the magazine’s 13th volume and is the first Filipino to grace the publication’s front.
Ravena, who was wearing a pair of Off White Air Jordan 5s, strikes a dunking pose on a red background while the Philippine flag flaps behind him.
“Also wanna thank the country of Japan for welcoming this young Filipino with open arms. Felt the love from day 1. Will continue to work my hardest for to represent the country and [NeoPhoenix],” said Ravena on Twitter.
Reo Onishi, a writer who translates books about the NBA, penned the cover story for the magazine.
Lotta love! Appreciate every single one of you who liked and reposted the cover. Also wanna thank the country of Japan for welcoming this young Filipino with open arms. Felt the love from day 1. Will continue to work my hardest for to represent the country and @NEO_PHOENIX 🇵🇭🇯🇵 pic.twitter.com/siqiVNFP55
— Thirdy (@ThirdyRavenaaa) January 20, 2022
Robert Sacre, who previously played for the Los Angeles Lakers, was the magazine’s first cover athlete when he played for the Sunrockers Shibuya franchise.
Other players who appeared on the magazine’s covers include Japanese national team players Yuma Fujii of Kawasaki Brave Thunders and Toronto Raptors’ Yuta Watanabe.
Ravena paved the way for Filipinos to play in the B.League with his brother Kiefer, Dwight Ramos, Bobby Ray Parks, and Kobe Paras also jumping to the Japanese association.
Other Filipinos playing in Japan are Javi Gomez de Liaño, Matthew Aquino, and Kemark Cariño.
Juan Gomez de Liaño recently parted ways with Earthfriends Tokyo Z after the club cut him from the lineup.