Thirdy Ravena officially ruled out of B.League All-Stars

Former Japanese national team member Takuya Kawamura will replace Thirdy Ravena in the B.League All-Star Game. FIBA (file photo)

By Ivan Saldajeno

MANILA--Thirdy Ravena will have to wait before finally making his first pro basketball All-Star appearance as the B.League formally ruled him out of its Jan. 16 mid-season classic in Mito, Japan.

The B.League announced on Wednesday that Ravena, which would have been the first Filipino to play in the said league's All-Star Game, has been replaced by Mikawa's Takuya Kawamura following the former's injury.

Ravena hurt his right hand midway through the third quarter of San-En's loss at Shibuya on Saturday night.

The NeoPhoenix revealed on Sunday that he fractured his ring finger in that sequence, eventually ruling him out of their rematch with the Sun Rockers, which ended in a 41-point blowout defeat.

Recovery time for a broken finger often takes up to two months.

"It is still not possible [for him] to return to the competition from [his] right fourth finger metacarpal oblique fracture that was announced by the club on Jan. 3 until the day of the All-Star [Game]," the B.League said in a statement.

The 34-year-old Kawamura is making his fourth All-Star appearance in the B.League.

The former five-time Mythical Five member in the defunct Japan Basketball League, a predecessor to the B.League, averages 9.1 points, 2.7 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 1.0 steal, and 0.2 block for the Seahorses this season.

A known outside gunner even during his stint with the Japanese national team in the late 2000's and early 2010's, Kawamura is on pace for a 50-40-90 season as he shoots 52.1 percent from the field including a 52.9 percent clip from long range and 93.3 percent from the charity stripe.

On the other hand, the B.League did not name a replacement for Ravena in the Slam Dunk Contest scheduled on Jan. 15 and will proceed with the event sans one contestant.

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