Kiefer Ravena looks forward to his first game in the Japan B.League, interestingly against his brother Thirdy this weekend.
The 27-year-old Ravena said this in a video message as his team Shiga Lakestars went into practice for their game against the SanEn NeoPhoenix, which will see action with his younger brother, Thirdy, in the lineup.
“I’m excited to play against my brother. And hopefully, we will come out victorious,” said Ravena during a presentation done by sports media distribution company Tap Digital Media Ventures.
The Lakestars and the NeoPhoenix have two scheduled games this weekend, with the first tip-off at 4:05 p.m. on Saturday at the Ukaru-chan Arena in Otsu, Shiga, Japan.
After that, the two squads meet again on Sunday at 1:35 p.m.
This will be the first time the Ravena brothers will face each other while playing for opposing teams.
The younger Thirdy was the first Filipino cager to join the B.League last year.
Then, seven other blue-chip basketball players from the Philippine collegiate ranks and the Philippine Basketball Association followed suit and followed the money.
This included Kiefer, who left the NLEX Road Warriors.
Also set for to play in the coming days are former University of the Philippines star Kobe Paras, who will be playing for the Niigata Albirex BB.
Paras’ team will take on the Kyoto Hannaryz, while Javi Gomez de Liano’s Ibaraki Robots faces the Akita Northern Happinets.
On the other hand, former TNT star Bobby Ray Parks and the Nagoya Dophins will battles the Sun Rockers Shibuya.
Other young Filipino prospects in the B.League are Dwight Ramos (Toyama Grouses, B1), Juan Gomez De Liano (Earth Friends Tokyo Z, B2) and Kemark Carino (Aomori Wat’s, B2).
Tap Digital Media Ventures will be responsible for airing the B.League games over television and digital platforms exclusively in the Philippines for the 2021-22 Season.
And this is through Tap Go’s television and digital platforms, according to marketing exec Rely San Agustin.
“We have eight young great names in Philippine basketball playing in Japan. We have seen the trend of Filipino athletes making a breakthrough internationally. And we want to bring it to the Filipino audience,” Business Development Officer Chiqui Reyes.
TapDMV plans to broadcast 51 games of the B.League, aired mainly on “TAP Sports”, “TAP GO” and their social media platforms.