Kiefer Ravena is back with Gilas Men as part of the SEA Games pool. Dennis Acosta (file photo) |
By Ivan Saldajeno
PASIG--It's now official: Kiefer Ravena has a chance to get his fifth Southeast Asian Games men's basketball gold.
The NLEX guard has been inserted to the Gilas Pilipinas Men pool for the upcoming meet as confirmed by Coach Tim Cone himself.
"The SBP has approved and got the Southeast Asian Games' approval for him to be on the 15[-man pool]," Cone said on Monday night after Gilas Men played Alab Pilipinas in a friendly at the Meralco Gym.
Gilas Men team manager Gabby Cui affirmed Cone's statement, saying, "The SBP said that he can join."
Cui added that the SBP did not take long to add Ravena into the pool since the PHISGOC is only looking for the final roster.
"It's gonna be the Final 12 that we'll submit," Cui further said.
Ravena was actually in attendance during the Gilas Men-Alab game, and Cone admitted that he thought about inserting him to the match if not for some back problems he got during the Road Warriors' practice.
Initially not part of the pool, Ravena was brought into the mix following an Achilles tendon injury to Jayson Castro, which he interestingly got during the TNT-NLEX game on Oct. 25.
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