Kiefer Ravena announces retirement from SEA Games

Kiefer Ravena, the most decorated Filipino basketball player in the Southeast Asian Games, announced his retirement from the biennial meet.

The 28-year-old cager said on Monday that he has wrapped up his stint at the SEA Games, making his participation in the Vietnam Games his last one.

The development came just a day after Gilas Pilipinas settled for silver following a tough loss to Rakjo Toroma-led Indonesia.

"That's it for me! Hanging these bad boys up for my last SEA Games," said Ravena in an Instagram story.

"Been my absolute pleasure playing for the Philippines."

As a SEA Games delegate, Ravena had won six medals, five of which were gold, after helping the country rule the tournament in 2011, 2013, 2015, 2017, and 2019. He, however, falls short of stretching his streak to six as Gilas absorbed a heartbreaker in Hanoi, Vietnam.

The Filipinos endured an 85-81 defeat to Indonesia, missing out on the gold medal for the first time since 1989.

In an earlier Twitter post, Ravena had apologized to the community as they failed to bag the gold medal.

Thank you SEA GAMES for the competition, relationship and memories! 13 straight is tough to beat and i’m proud of my team! Sorry we felt short. #5and1 #OneForTheRoad????????????????????????

— Kiefer Ravena (@kieferravena) May 22, 2022

"Thank you SEA GAMES for the competition, relationship and memories! 13 straight is tough to beat and I'm proud of my team! Sorry we felt short."

—Bea Micaller/JMB, GMA News