It's going to be one memorable PBA All-Star game for Kiefer Ravena.
Aside from being the only rookie voted by fans as a starter, the freshman guard of NLEX also gets to play before his home town of Iloilo when the league holds the final leg of the mid-season extravaganza down south on May 27.
The Ravena clan hails from Iloilo City, where 24-year-old Kiefer was born. It will be the first time the high-flying rookie will be playing in front of his town-mates since turning pro last year.
“I’m looking forward to it kasi hindi pa ako nakakalaro in front of my people sa PBA,” said Ravena, selected no. 2 overall by NLEX in last year’s draft. “My family will come out over there. My dad will be joining me.”
Ravena joins June Mar Fajardo (San Miguel), James Yap (Rain or Shine), Greg Slaughter (Barangay Ginebra), and Terrence Romeo (TnT Katropa) as part of the starting unit of the PBA Visayas All-Star that will play against the Smart Philippine team during the event that has for major sponsor Phoenix Fuel with Phoenix Pulse Technology.
Chito Victolero will coach the Visayas selection while Nash Racela calls the shot for the national squad in the third and last phase of the yearly gathering also supported by Peak Sports Apparel, PBA Rush-Cignal, Nature’s Spring, TAGHeuer, Gatorade, Rain or Shine, and Molten.
Completing the Visayas All-Star are JR Quinahan, Jeff Chan, Chris Ross, Asi Taulava, Jericho Cruz, Eman Monfort and Ronald Tubid, who replaced the injured Joe Devance.
“I’ll be playing a fellow Atenean and fellow Ilonggo Eman Monfort,” Ravena said of his fellow NLEX teammate, with whom he won a championship with the Blue Eagles during the 2011 UAAP season.
At the same time, Ravena extended his gratitude to all the voting fans who made it happen for him to become part of the starting unit of the Visayas selection.
“Salute to all the fans who voted me in the All-Star game,” he said. “Hopefully, I’ll give them a good show and help my team win the All-Star game. I’ll try to have fun. It’s my first All-star week. I’m blessed to be part of the whole week.”
