Kiefer-Thirdy showdown headlines jam-packed B.League schedule for Filipino cagers

Brothers Kiefer and Thirdy Ravena will break the ice for Filipino cagers as they face each other in a much-anticipated showdown in the 2021-2022 Japan B. League season.

Kiefer's Shiga Lakestars and Thirdy's San-En NeoPhoenix will battle it out at the 4:05 p.m. faceoff on October 2, Saturday, and again on October 3 at 1:35 p.m.

This would be the first time that Kiefer and Thirdy are facing each other on the hard court after briefly teaming up on the Ateneo Blue Eagles in UAAP. 

Kiefer, 27, applied for the PBA Draft in 2017 where he was picked second overall by NLEX. Thirdy, meanwhile, led Ateneo to three-straight UAAP titles and went on playing for San-en in the previous conference where they finished with a 12-47 win-loss card.

Also making their debuts on Saturday are Kobe Paras and the Niigata Albirex BB against Kyoto Hannaryz while Javi Gomez de Liaño's Ibaraki Robots will tackle Akita Northern Happinets both at 1:05 p.m.

Ray Parks will also begin his Japan stint as the Nagoya Diamond Dolphins are set to clash with Sun Rockers Shibuya at 5:05 in the afternoon.

A total of eight Filipino ballers so far are set to see action in the prestigious tournament with Dwight Ramos playing for Toyama Grouses while Juan Gomez de Liano and Kemark Cariño are set to strut their stuff in Division 2.

—JMB, GMA News