Thirdy Ravena got a first taste of training with his Japan B. League team San-en NeoPhoenix, who welcomed the three-peat UAAP men’s basketball champion with excitement.

Ravena completed his mandatory 14-day quarantine since arriving in Japan, and finally started training with the team before making his professional basketball debut on November 7 against Shimane Susanoo Magic.

Even if he’s just a newcomer, Ravena was already asked to bring a cake to teammate Kyle Hunt, who was celebrating his birthday.

The team also made sure to capture Ravena donning the San-en jerseys and even hosted a live interview with him on the LINE app.

Ravena is set to reinforce San-en, which is running dead last and only registered its first win last Wednesday, October 28 after a 94-75 decision over Kyoto Hannaryz at Toyohashi City Gymnasium

San-en NeoPhoenix is one of the 20 top division teams in the Japan B. League. It has 3 league titles with the last one clinched in 2015.

The league recently introduced the “Asian Player Quotas” system, which allowed Ravena to become the first Filipino to play professional basketball in Japan. (READ: As Thirdy moves to Japan, Kiefer shares own overseas experience). – Rappler.com