Former mentors chime in on Kiefer Ravena's contract situation

Coaches Bo Perasol and Norman Black — two mentors who saw Kiefer Ravena develop into the exceptional player he is today — shared their opinions about possibility of the NLEX guard playing in Japan.

Ravena had signed with the Shiga Lakestars in the Japan B. League earlier this week, despite still having an active contract with the PBA, having signed a three-year Uniform Players’ Contract.

Perasol, who coached Ravena in Ateneo from 2013 to 2015, expressed hopes that the 27-year-old cager and the PBA would meet halfway in order to arrive at a decision that benefits both parties.

But Perasol, now the concurrent UP Fighting Maroons coach, added that he trusts that Ravena had already figured everything out before inking a pact with the Japanese club.

“Kiefer wouldn’t enter into a new agreement without him threshing out the details with his current team,” Perasol told GMA News Online in a message.

“As far as the PBA is concerned, it’s just normal that they have to protect the interest of the league. I am sure that both parties will be able to find a middle ground and decide on how to proceed.”

Ravena’s road to Japan, though, is looking bumpier by the day.

On Saturday, PBA leadership formally thumbed down the second-generation baller’s appeal to play in the top league in Japan.

According to PBA chairman and Talk ‘N Text governor Ricky Vargas, Ravena has to honor his contract with NLEX and the league before seeing action in the B.League, where his brother Thirdy plays for the San-en NeoPhoenix.

Vargas added that allowing Ravena suit up for the Lakestars would set a bad precedent for the league.

Black, who currently patrols the sidelines for Meralco in the PBA, did not go into too much detail, though he wished his former player well.

His Bolts team is under the umbrella of the MVP Group, which also includes Ravena's current team, the NLEX Road Warriors.

“I just wish him the best. Just good luck and I hope he can figure everything out,” Black, who coached Ravena in Ateneo for two years, said.

Meanwhile, Shiga management decided to postpone a press conference set on Monday that was supposed to officially welcome Ravena to its fold.

The club bared holding the virtual presser could add more confusion to the issue.

“We have decided to postpone the press conference until a more appropriate time, as holding a press conference with Ravena and us at this time may add more confusion of the situation. We will continue discussions to resolve this issues," Shiga said in a media statement.

—JMB, GMA News