The word Phenom, as defined by "Your Dictionary", an online dictionary, is one who is extremely talented, skilled or able; specifically in sports,a young exceptionally gifted or promising player; a phenomenon." Look at the last definition carefully: "young and exceptionally gifted". In all the world, there have been many phenoms, those young up and coming athletes who are slowly changing the pace of the game. Guys like Kobe Bryant, LeBron James are very good examples of the word. But locally, to be more specific, in Katipunan wearing the Blue and White, there is a phenom who is currently enrolled in his freshman year taking BS-COMTECH.
You all know who he is the moment I mentioned the word "Phenom".
KIEFER ISAAC RAVENA, the Blue Mamba, the Phenom.
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| Photo from del Mundo Photography |
It's been long overdue, but I'd like to welcome you back to The Atenean on the Hot Seat and since we made you wait so long, we wanted to look for someone in the Ateneo that could properly close the year on DTF.
We sat down with the 6 feet tall freshman this past Thursday, March 15 in the Moro Lorenzo Sports Center, his natural habitat.
The conversation between the DTF gang and Kiefer Ravena has been summarized and paraphrased.
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| Photo by Erwin Cabbab |
Q1: How has your freshman year been so far?
KR: Well, from a basketball standpoint, it went well after winning it all (UAAP Senior's Basketball Championship). My student life went better than expected, it was really good! I was lucky enough to get good teachers, I have a pretty light schedule and I have a really good block. I expected College life to be good, but I didn't expect it to be this good. It was a great surprise!
Q2: How has playing for the Ateneo Senior's team been different than playing in the Junior's team?
KR: Well, college life is harder. With my classes, training and games, it has become more hectic. You really need to manage your time wisely. I had to learn to do that even better.
Q3: Who do you like to pass to the most on the team? And who would you prefer taking the last shot in a game?
KR: Siyempre si Greg! Pagpasa ko lang sa kanya sa loob, pasok na kaagad. Who wouldn't want to pass it to a 7footer? Iba yun. Pero, sa dami ng talent dito, you can't really choose one. Ang daming puwedeng pasahan. Pero sa last seconds, gusto ko ako! Pati nga pag-practice ako naglalast shot e, pero nahihiya rin ako sa teammates ko!
Q4: Do you ever see yourself playing in the PBA?
KR: Actually, totoong dream ko talaga mag-NBA. To be honest, I sometimes see myself there. It's a wildman's dream. Di naman masama mangarap. I always believed kung gusto mo talagang makuha yung isang bagay, basta mag-work ka lang, makukuha mo yon. Pero kung di ako umabot doon, OK na rin yung PBA. Dream ko din maglaro doon.
Q5: Kobe or LeBron?
KR: KOBE SYEMPRE! Tinatanong pa ba yon?
Q6: How did it feel, winning the gold in this past SEA games? How is it compared to playing for Ateneo?
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| Photo taken from chinoyhoopsfan.blogspot.com |
KR: Well I have represented the country many times but ito yung pinakamaganda. Kasi ang daming nanood. Iba talaga to sa playing for Ateneo. Iba pag nirerepresent mo country mo. Especially kasi millions yung nanonood sa iyo, pakita mo na lahat. Philippine pride 'to.
Q7: What's next for Kiefer Ravena next year?
KR: Well to keep winning in basketball. I mean, Sino ba sawa na sa pananalo? Sana maka 5-peat next year. Tingnan natin. Tapos sa academics, just to continue doing well and hopefully even better pa.
The DTF crew thanked and left the college Freshman as he was about to do the easiest thing in the world to him: shoot some hoops. After a stellar rookie year in the UAAP wherein he avereaged 13.7pts, 4.2rebs, 3.1assts and 1.5stls (which led to him winning Rookie of the Year honors), the sky's the limit for the Blue Mamba. The success of Ateneo in the coming years will surely be resting on the young man's shoulders.