Thirdy Ravena dedicates Finals MVP to the team after steering Ateneo to redemption

For Thirdy Ravena, the Finals MVP plum should be shared to the entire team for a job well done. Dennis Jerome Acosta/Dugout Philippines

By Kevin Estrada

QUEZON CITY -- Coming out of the shadow of his brother Kiefer, Thirdy Ravena retains his trademark humility after being awarded as the best player of the postseason, steering Ateneo to its ninth title in the UAAP.

"That was a very tough game. La Salle gave us a really tough fight. It is what it is," a speechless Ravena said after giving the Blue Eagles their ninth title after a thrilling series decider earlier in the evening at the Big Dome.

The explosive small forward capped off the title series by posting averages 16.3 points, 6.7 rebounds, 4.3 assists and 1.3 steals to get the Finals MVP nod in which his brother failed to get in his reign as the King Eagle.

Coming out of the shadow of his kuya Kiefer, Thirdy Ravena etched his name in the Ateneo sporting lore with a Finals performance to remember. Franchesca Nicole Collantes/Dugout Philippines

But true to his self, he shared the award with graduating slotman Chibueze Ikeh during the presentation, emphasizing the team effort that got them the top spot in the regular season.

"There are things na hindi nakikita ng tao because it's intangibles. But I saw Ikeh the whole game, he just did his job," he then said of his big man who signed off in the UAAP with a double-double of 12 points and 13 boards in his final college game.

After all, Ravena cap it off by dedicating it to the entire team, saying they are doing the same thing day in day out.

"For me, the team deserves that [Finals MVP] award," he said. "I'm not doing anything special, because we all exerted the same effort."

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