Gilas off to promising start in Fiba World Cup despite loss, says Kiefer Ravena

Gilas Pilipinas’ Kiefer Ravena reacts during a game against the Dominican Repubic in the Fiba World Cup. -MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

Perspective helped Kiefer Ravena find a silver lining in the Philippines’ losing stand against the Dominican Republic in the 2023 Fiba World Cup’s opening night on Friday.

“This is a promising start [compared] to the last World Cup start that we had,” Ravena said as he spared a few seconds with a pair of reporters following the 87-81 defeat at the Philippine Arena in Bocaue, Bulacan.

“Hopefully, it gets better from this, yes?” he went on.

Ravena was a member of the 2019 World Cup squad that competed in Foshan, China. That team, then coached by Yeng Guiao, dropped all of its matches and fell dead last at 32nd place.

That edition of the Nationals found themselves on the nasty end of a 108-62 blowout at the hands of the Italians, and then again in a 126-67 whipping by the Serbians.

Gilas Pilipinas huddles during a game against the Dominican Republic in the Fiba World Cup. -MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

The gallant effort versus the Dominicans that night even saw Gilas take leads, albeit for a short while. And stacked against those first two games in China, the Philippines is off to a decent start this time out.

Gilas and Ravena can truly make things better on Sunday should they win over the No. 41-ranked Angolans, which also put up a commendable outing against the No. 10 Italians before crumpling late in Friday’s opening match.

“It’s just unfortunate that (Jordan Clarkson) fouled out,” said Ravena who finished with two points, two assists, and a steal while also providing the hustle plays that helped keep Gilas in the game when the Dominicans tried to break away early.

“(JC’s presence) could’ve helped us in the endgame,” he added. “But then again, hopefully, it gets better from this.”