After dealing with numerous setbacks in his first season with the San-En NeoPhoenix in the Japan B. League, Filipino basketball star Thirdy Ravena is looking forward to give back and show the team what he is truly capable of once he steps on the court again.

“I feel like I want to give them what I feel that I really can, and what they deserve, for everything that they’ve shown me and how they treated me,” said the former King Eagle Ravena during the episode of Rappler Talk Sports.

“They’ve shown nothing but love and I want to keep working in this kind of environment,” he added.

In his first year with the NeoPhoenix, Ravena, who recently signed a multi-year contract with the team, only managed to play 18 of their 59 games as he tested positive for the coronavirus and suffered wrist and knee injuries in the middle of the season.

Despite all these challenges, the 24-year-old guard still averaged a decent 9.1 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 1.6 assists for San-En, which finished the season with a miserable 12-47 record. 

For Ravena, re-signing with the NeoPhoenix is also a no-brainer as the team welcomed him with open arms and had shown genuine love to him ever since he arrived in Japan in October 2020.

“It wasn’t hard to make that decision just because from day one, it was all love.”

“It never changed and I really felt it was genuine. I felt welcome in the team, from the players to the staff, to the management, and to the president,” he added. – Rappler.com