Kiefer Ravena dedicates 5th SEA Games gold to FIBA World Cup team

Kiefer Ravena is no stranger to winning at the Southeast Asian Games. After all, he just had his fifth straight gold medal on Tuesday night.

Ravena has been playing in the SEA Games since 2011, leading the men's basketball team to a championship each time. But this one is extra special for him, because the team was able to relish the victory on home soil.

For the NLEX guard, bagging the gold was a chance for him to give back to his old teammates from Gilas Pilipinas, who went winless in the FIBA World Cup in China last September.

"This is also dedicated to my World Cup team, 'yung mga di na nakasali dito — Beau [Belga], Paul [Lee], Roger [Pogoy], especially Coach Yeng [Guiao]. This is also for them, makabawi man ako sa kanila kahit papano," he said during the post-game conference.

For Ravena, playing for the flag is always something else.

"I haven't won a championship in the PBA, I had a couple of championship in the UAAP, etc., but representing your country, the flag, [with] 110 million at your back, wanting to support you, this tops it all," he said.

Ravena was a late addition to the SEA Games roster, as a muscle strained suffered by Jayson Castro opened up a slot on the team and gave him the opportunity to don the country's colors once again.

"One lesson that I've learned is you just have to be ready. During the time na nabuo 'yung pool, sabi ko lang kailangan maging ready any time anuman mangyari," he said.

"I know it was a big gap to fill in with Jayson [out], but being with these guys made it a lot easier for me," Ravena added. —MGP, GMA News