Kiefer Ravena believes B. League allows Filipino players to showcase own brand of basketball

MANILA, Philippines – Filipinos have long left their mark in Japan’s B.League, thrusting their brand of basketball into the spotlight.

Now in his fifth year in Japan, Kiefer Ravena — the older brother of Thirdy Ravena, who pioneered moving to foreign leagues in 2020 — reflected on how his overseas stint has sharpened his game while putting the Filipino brand of basketball on full display during the league’s All-Star weekend, which also featured compatriots Dwight Ramos, AJ Edu, and Ray Parks Jr. 

”Everybody is getting better. All the players, the locals, and the national teams,” Ravena said as the Filipino quartet steered the Asia All-Stars to a sweep of the Asia Cross Tournament on Friday, January 16, at Nagasaki’s Happiness Arena.

“I am very honored to be part of a whole organization like the B. League to improve my skills and at the same time showcase where I am from and the style of basketball where we come from in the Philippines,” he added. 

The Asia All-Stars also included some of the top names in the continent, like Lee Hyun-jung, Yang Jaemin, AC Yu, Sergio El Darwich, and Omar Jamaleddine.

Aside from Ravena, Ramos, Edu, and Parks, Kai Sotto and Francis Lopez also play as Asian imports in the league that has since grown its brand and influence in the continent. 

Sotto is still recovering from a torn ACL, while Lopez earned a spot in the league’s Slam Dunk contest, where he finished second. 

Along with Parks, the 31-year-old Ravena has been one of the longest-tenured Filipino imports in Japan, joining the Shiga Lakes in 2021 before signing with his current team Yokohama B-Corsairs in 2024. 

Filipinos’ success overseas has also spread elsewhere, with the likes of Kevin Quiambao, JD Cagulangan, Arvin Tolentino, Justin Gutang, SJ Belangel, Jake Figueroa, Carl Tamayo, and Rhenz Abando taking their talents to the Korean Basketball League (KBL). 

In KBL’s All-Star weekend, Tolentino showed out with 19 points and 14 rebounds to bag the All-Star MVP honors as the Filipino-laden Team Asia escaped Team Rookie, 82-79. 

For Ravena, such events give them the chance to connect with one another and take a much-needed break from the grueling season. 

“It feels great being out there with my fellow Asian quota players,” said Ravena.

With Japan and Korea emerging as prime destinations for Filipinos, Ravena believes the pathway is only getting wider in the years ahead.

“One thing is for sure, it is headed in the right direction.” – Rappler.com