Kiefer Ravena rues missed opportunity for Gilas payback vs Angola

Gilas Pilipinas had the chance to exact some revenge on a familiar foe in Angola when the two nations crossed paths anew on Sunday in Group A action of the 2023 FIBA World Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Back in the 2019 edition of the World Cup in China, Angola narrowly defeated the Philippines in an 84-81 overtime victory.

Four years later, the Philippines had another chance to give Angola a taste of defeat. Unfortunately, the Filipinos blew an early 11-point lead as the visitors turned things around in the second half en route to the win, their second against the Philippines in back-to-back World Cups.

Kiefer Ravena, who is among the five holdovers from that 2019 squad, rued the lost opportunity of avenging the previous loss.

"With three or four players from that team of 2019 and some of the players who played at the 2019 World Cup watching today, sayang," Ravena said during the post-game press conference.

"Kasi parang gusto talaga namin makabawi for them."

("We really wanted to get it back for them for them.")

In 2019, the Philippines almost defeated Angola led by naturalized big man Andray Batche and guard CJ Perez, who delivered the dagger that sent the game into overtime. But they came up short in the extra period as Angola came away with the win.

Compared to five holdovers for the Philippines, only three players from the 2019 squad of Angola are still playing in the ongoing World Cup in Gerson Domingos, Gerson Goncalves, and Leonel Paulo, though they came in with a strong team that includes NBA player Bruno Fernando.

"That was part of the motivation — bouncing back for those players who gave their best from the 2019 edition," Ravena added.

Ravena, though, said they can't afford to sulk over the loss as they still have a remaining group stage game against Italy on Tuesday.

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"But we gotta focus on the present, which is preparing for Italy. We can’t be emotional at this time where we have one more game left," he added.

"Sayang lang. Pero kailangan bumawi ulit."

("Missed opportunity. But we have to get it back again.")

—JMB, GMA Integrated News