Ateneo is looking dangerous with Kiefer Ravena leading the way

Naveen Ganglani

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Ateneo is looking dangerous with Kiefer Ravena leading the way
Kiefer Ravena has recovered from an injury plagued Season 76 to lead Ateneo to an exceptional start this season, exceeding pundits' expectations

MANILA, Philippines – With each dribble he took, the fear began to creep up the nerves of DLSU fans all over the Smart Araneta Coliseum. They had seen this script before, witnessed it first hand way too many times. The inevitable was about to take place, and there was nothing they could do but watch, as disaster could no longer be averted.

One dribble after another, Kiefer Ravena closed in, but made sure to stay a few inches away from the three-point line. His eyes betrayed his intent, ready to unleash pain on La Salle which dared not put a double team on him. One stutter step was all he needed; in a second’s notice, he was up in the air, the form and the arc was consistent.

He made the three-pointer, bringing to life the side in blue not long after and silencing the rest in green. And then he did it again.

And again.

And again.

The Phenom

In Ateneo’s second game of the season, Ravena led his Blue Eagles to victory over the Green Archers, sending a message to the defending champions in the process. Three games later, ADMU stands at 4-1, at sole possession of the second place in the league standings.

Suddenly, this rookie-laden team not only looks like a club who can make the Final Four, but also like a team that can win it all with a few lucky bounces along the way. But they’re there. They’re making noise. Chris Newsome is playing impressively in his final season. Von Pessumal has come out of nowhere, shooting his way to earn the adoration of the Ateneo community. Fonzo Gotladera looks fit and effective. Arvin Tolentino is a true rookie playing years ahead of his age.

And at the forefront of Coach Bo Perasol’s arsenal is Kiefer Ravena.

The best player in college basketball today.

“It was still a win for us, and again Kiefer delivered for us during crunch time,” Perasol said after his team’s win against the FEU Tamaraws on Sunday, August 3. 

He was right.

The Tamaraws had struggled all afternoon to convert from the field. Mike Tolomia wound up finishing 5-of-16 from the field. Mac Belo was his usual MVP-like self this season, but the rest of the supporting cast was futile. Nonetheless, FEU was there at the end of the game, down only by a possession, fitted to snatch a victory away from the paws of the Blue Eagles.

Only Ravena wouldn’t allow it.

“I think we played toe-to-toe with them – rebounding-wise, running-wise,” said Perasol.

They did. And it was Ravena who produced at the end. It was him who put up 24 points and seven assists. It was him who nailed the deciding jumpers. It was him who made 5 out of 6 free throws to provide some leeway between his team and the pesky Tamaraws.

“Si Thirdy (Ravena) nakalabas dun sa shell niya (Thirdy broke out of his shell). Si Chris Newsome at Nico Elorde, those two guys were also big. If not for Chris, he kept us in the game during the first half,” Ravena said after the game, praising his teammates.

“My veterans, Newsome, Elorde, and Pessumal were big today especially with Arvin not having a good shooting afternoon.”

FEU’s defense zeroed in on Ravena, daring him to pass the ball to his teammates, daring to let someone else beat them. In the first few quarters, the Ateneo superstar did a great job finding his open comrades, trusting them to nail the jumpers the Tamaraws provoked they to make.

“I really wanted to involve my other teammates,” he said after the win. “All the credit goes to them. I’m just there to create, to facilitate to them.”

Needless to say, the supporting cast didn’t let him down. And when it was time for The Phenom to take over, like he did against La Salle and like he will many more times in the future, Ravena buried the Tamaraws.

“Hopefully we can carry this momentum to UST,” Coach Perasol noted, also saying he’s not taking the Growling Tigers for granted despite their lackluster play as of late. 

“Well, knowing UST, they’re going to find a way to address that. I don’t think they’re going to be lying over and giving us a win on Wednesday. We’re going to fight for it and we’re going to prepare hard for that.”

But even the Tigers know what’s coming for them. Last season, it was UST who eliminated Ateneo in their quest for a six-peat. On Wednesday, August 6, the new-and-improved Blue Eagles are going to be hungry, eager to add another victim to their early list of victories.

Not many expected the Blue Eagles to look this good prior to the season. Ravena was a question mark, as many wondered how good he would be after an injury-stricken campaign last year. There were too many rookies, according to other pundits. But after five games, ADMU has erased that notion, and their message to the rest of the UAAP has been very clear.

“Hopefully (it carries) on and we can get as much wins as we can,” said Ravena.

On Sunday, with 2:22 remaining, Ravena stared at the eyes of his FEU defender. One dribble after another, he was setting up the Tamaraws for an inevitable and painful finish. Moments later, he hit a tough turn-around jumper like it was nothing, as if he was making a layup.

The next possession, like he did against La Salle, Ravena made sure to stay behind the three-point line. The killer in him setting in, he prepared to put down the Tamaraws for good. And in the blink of an eye, he was up in the air, his shot unleashed.

Everyone knew what was about to take place and FEU couldn’t do anything about it.

Splash. The best player in college basketball had done it again.

Up next comes UST.

– Rappler.com

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