Passing the torch: From the Raven to the Phenom

Father and son comparisons never go away, especially in the realm of Philippine basketball, where “the chip off the old block” idiom stands the test of time. The torch is lighted and passed from one generation to the next. As one legacy comes to a close, another is waiting to be written. Part two of a three-part feature turns the spotlight on Bong Ravena and his son, Kiefer. Early hurdles Despite standing above six feet, Ferdinand “Bong” Ravena was not initiated into the hoops hoopla early in his youth. He was more often seen in the open fields playing football, and when he was indoors, you were more likely to catch him setting up a mean volleyball spike. Once Ravena picked basketball as his primary sport though, it came to him quickly. Under UE Head Coach Rhoel Nadurata’s guidance, Ravena led the Red Warriors to a UAAP finals appearance in 1990, but they eventually fell to the defending champions De La Salle Green Archers, 78-74. Ravena developed a serious reputation as a deadeye gunner from long range during his collegiate days. This skill set was scouted by the San Miguel Beermen during the 1992 draft, with the team selecting him fifth overall. There was an optimism surrounding the arrival of “The Raven.” He was perceived to be the ideal back-up for Allan “The Triggerman” Caidic and Samboy “The Skywalker” Lim. His ability to work well off the ball was supposed to make him the quintessential decoy for the Beermen, who had a surplus of wing men on board. By the end of his first season in the league, Ravena became the PBA’s talk of the town, but for the wrong reason. He controversially won the 1992 Rookie of the Year award despite posting meager numbers of 5.1 points, 1.3 rebounds, and 0.9 assists in 13.6 minutes. The argument presented was that Vergel Meneses, the first pick of the draft, had more stellar numbers across the board than Ravena, averaging 17.7 points, 2.2 rebounds, and 1.6 assists for the Presto Tivolis. Some said that the only justification for Ravena’s winning the award was that he played for a championship team whereas Meneses delivered for a mediocre squad already on the brink of disbandment. The murmurs grew louder the following year, as the Beermen turned 180 degrees on Ravena’s position with the team. Instead of proving that Ravena was a key piece in their title run from the previous year, the Beermen had other plans. Ravena languished on the bench for most of his second season, enduring the feared sophomore slump. By the end of the year, he found himself dealt to the Coney Island Ice Cream Stars in exchange for Kevin Ramas. One shining moment Coney renamed themselves as Purefoods Tender Juicy Hotdogs when Ravena arrived in 1994, giving him a fresh new start. The team had just traded away Elmer Cabahug, their prolific scorer, to the Pepsi Hotshots, allowing Ravena the chance to steal significant minutes away from rookie Vince Hizon and defensive wiz Glenn Capacio, who was entering past the prime of his career. Management then made three key moves that altered Ravena’s career. In 1995, Purefoods sent Hizon to Ginebra San Miguel. In 1996, they sent the draft rights to second pick Rodney Santos to the Alaska Milkmen. And before the 1997 season began, they sent Glenn Capacio to the Mobiline Cellulars. Suddenly, Ravena found himself as the team’s starting shooting guard. It was then that Ravena rose to prominence with the Purefoods Corned Beef Cowboys under the keen watch of newly appointed Head Coach Eric Altamirano. On a lineup that boasted of Alvin “The Captain” Patrimonio, Jerry “The Defense Minister” Codiñera, Dindo “The Bullet” Pumaren, and “Mr. Sportsmanship” awardee Rey Evangelista,  “The Raven” became more than the missing link. At times, he was the team’s strongest link. During the All-Filipino Cup finals against Gordon’s Gin, Ravena made himself visible. He was the team’s second option in scoring behind Patrimonio. His outside shooting that once deserted him as a Beerman was a shade under 35% during the contested series. On defense, Ravena could be seen shutting down Jayvee Gayoso and former teammate Hizon. Purefoods outlasted the Gin Kings in six games, to earn their first conference title in nearly three seasons. Ravena’s numbers rose the rest of the 1997 season, reaching career-high averages of 11.5 points, 4.1 rebounds, 2.4 assists, and 1.2 steals. He bagged two awards: Most Improved Player award and a Mythical Second Team appearance. This time, there were no controversies surrounding the citations. Ravena would go on to play several seasons with Mobiline/Talk 'N Text until 2005 and finish with a total of six championships to his name before eventually hanging it up. The senior Ravena was a late bloomer. The son? Not quite. Living up to the hype The athletic gene was definitely in Bong and wife Mozzy’s favor. Kiefer Ravena, a son of a basketball and volleyball player, lived and breathed basketball like oxygen. In grade school, he starred for the La Salle Greenhills Passarelle Team under head coach Hubert delos Santos. He made heads turn with his transfer to Ateneo de Manila High School, notching three consecutive UAAP Juniors titles from Seasons 71 to 73, and nabbing scoring titles along the way, with Head Coach Jamike Jarin entrusting to him the reins. In the advent of social media, perhaps no other Philippine athlete who came out of high school has been as scrutinized as “The Phenom.” Pundits and critics seemed to know better than he did, giving him advice on where to study and play out his collegiate career. ‘He is too talented to be kept on the bench in the US NCAA ranks,’ says one crowd. ‘He is too good to stay at home and be the big fish in the little pond of Philippine collegiate hoops,’ says another. Ravena opted to continue wearing the Blue and White, receiving the outpouring of support from a community fresh off its third consecutive UAAP title. His scoreless debut in the seniors level was a mere blip in the radar. He scored 24 points in his next game against the arch-rival De La Salle Green Archers on a flurry of fast break layups and he has never looked back since. The Blue Eagles took home the big kahuna in Season 74 and the “Blue Mamba” was acclaimed as the league’s Rookie of the Year. Ravena also shone brightly in international competition as an integral part of Sinag Pilipinas in the team’s gold medal finish against Thailand in the 2011 SEA Games that seemed like a case of déjà vu. Exactly 20 years earlier, Bong achieved the same result against the same opponent for the Philippine delegates. Father and son have notable playing style similarities upon first glance. Bong, having played with superstars throughout his career, has been deferential, while Kiefer, playing alongside teammates Greg Slaughter and Nico Salva, is learning how to play effectively without demanding the ball as much as he did back in high school. Both have quick hands and excellent footwork but need help defense when guarding quicker wing players. Both thrive in momentum and the heat of battle. Bong usually buried triples that extinguished opposing team’s rallies, whereas Kiefer converts on baskets coming off spin moves or well-timed screens that trigger Ateneo’s rallies. That is where the comparisons end. Kiefer is a demon on transition and is capable of finishing with either hand. Bong tended to roam the perimeter while Kiefer has a knack for slashing and creating plays towards the basket. Now in his second season, Kiefer is expected to bring the Blue Eagles their fifth consecutive championship. However, the trap of overconfidence and complacency remains as visible as ever. After all, staying at the top is much harder than getting there. Kiefer has to remember that opportunities can come and go all too easily. He does not have to look far for such a reminder. His own father serves as Exhibit A. - AMD, GMA News