ROOKIE Kiefer Ravena capped the past week with another phenomenal effort to become the first player to win two PBA Press Corps Player of Week citations this season.
The 24-year-old NLEX freshman averaged all-around numbers of 16.5 points, 7 assists, 6.5 rebounds and 1.5 steals in 29 minutes as the Road Warriors beat the Meralco Bolts and the Alaska Aces, respectively last week.
Showing the maturity of a veteran, Ravena helped NLEX overhaul an early 18-point deficit by nailing the game-winning basket on the way to fashioning out an 87-85 win over Meralco.
Nicknamed the “Phenom”, the second overall pick in last year’s PBA Rookie Draft finished with 21 points, going 7-of-12 from the floor, while snaring seven rebounds, issuing four assists and a steal off the bench against the fast fading Bolts.
Two nights later, Ravena recorded a near triple-double with 12 points, 10 assists and six assists as NLEX held off Alaska’s furious fourth-quarter rally, 96-89.
Ravena sank two pressure-packed foul shots with eight seconds left to play to practically seal NLEX’s fifth win in nine starts and third straight win, galvanizing the team’s playoff hopes in the process.
The youthful Ravena beat out teammates Kevin Alas and Larry Fonacier, Ginebra’s LA Tenorio, Japeth Aguilar and Greg Slaughter, Phoenix stalwarts Jeff Chan and Matthew Wright, Blackwater’s JP Erram and Mike DiGregorio as well as Rain or Shine slotman Raymond Almazan for the weekly PBA Press Corps award.
NLEX is currently tied for fifth to sixth spots in the standings with Ginebra and will take a weeklong respite, before returning to action this coming Sunday at the Philippine Arena in Bocaue, Bulacan where it faces dangerous Blackwater.
“Sometimes the overwhelming odds we face are opportunities for God to display His power and might.”