Sa kaniyang paninirahan sa Japan bilang import ng Shiga Lakes sa Japan B.League, nakaka-relate si Kiefer Ravena sa buhay ng isang overseas Filipino worker (OFW), na kumakayod habang tinitiis na mawalay sa kanilang pamilya sa Pilipinas.
"Actually it's harder to become an OFW than an import. I don't see [myself] as an import," sabi ni Kiefer sa Surprise Guest with Pia Arcangel.
"Basketball has given so much opportunities for me. So I'm still blessed to play basketball, but I feel for the other OFWs, what they always go through in their daily lives, being away from family. I think that's the harder part," dagdag niya.
Hindi raw ito ang unang beses na mawalay si Kiefer sa kaniyang pamilya, nang lumipad din siya sa States noon para sa kaniyang pangarap.
"I also tried to play after college. I tried to go to the States and pursue a dream of mine and that didn't pan out and obviously I learned a lot, but I was still away from family for a year," kuwento niya.
Hindi niya man natupad ang kaniyang pangarap, marami namang natutunan si Kiefer sa buhay.
"It was also hard especially during that time you know, I was a lot younger, you wanted to do a lot of things but no, that was my path before and there's no regrets for me and obviously I think it's helped me benefit for my future which is now. I did that what six seven years ago, light experience of being away from family," saad niya.
Sa kaniyang pamamalagi sa Japan, natuto na rin daw si Kiefer na magsalita ng kaunting Nihonggo.
"There was a slight barrier. But at the end of the day, we were the ones who are adjusting and trying to immerse in their culture. So you just have to adjust and be patient," kuwento ni Kiefer.
Ngunit dahil nilalaro ng halos buong mundo ang basketball, nagkakaintindihan sina Kiefer at ang kaniyang team mates pagdating sa mga terminong ginagamit sa basketball.
"In basketball, there's a universal language. Elsewhere you play in the world some terms are the same. So it's easier for us to communicate, it's easier for us to talk and when it comes to playing together, there's not much problem. It's just trying to communicate... But so far so good. I have a lot of teammates who can understand and talk English, very well," ayon kay Kiefer.
Kilala ang koponan ni Kiefer bilang Shiga Lakestars noong nakaraang season.
Makakalaban ng Shiga Lakes ang Gunma Crane Thunders sa Oktubre 1 at 2.--FRJ, GMA News
