Kiefer Ravena was like a kid who can’t wait for Christmas to finally arrive as he kept counting down on the days before the difficult stretch of his career comes to an end.
“It has been 540-plus days since I last played a game,” Ravena said during a recent Gilas Pilipinas as he waited for Aug. 24, 2019 (Saturday)
– the day he finally completes an 18-month suspension imposed by FIBA.
It seems like it was yesterday when Ravena was at a Mandaluyong City building looking dejected as Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas officials announced his FIBA ban after testing positive for banned substances found in a pre-workout drink he had taken for the first time.
The suspension not only covered his participation for his PBA club NLEX and the national team but also the chance of even playing in a pick-up game with friends, a clear proof of the severity of Ravena’s punishment.
Months have passed and an eight-week period where FIBA allowed him to participate in practice sessions and Ravena is now hours removed from making his on-court return which is this Sunday when Gilas wraps up its two-game exhibition series against the Adelaide 36ers at the Meralco Gym.
“I just can’t wait to join the team in an official game,” he said. “Sa akin, yun lang naman talaga ang inaantay ko kaya talagang todo din yung pagpapakundisyon ko para makacompete din ng spot dito sa national team.”
The 36ers match serves as a prelude of Ravena expects before — barring being cut by Gilas coach Yeng Guiao — his first official set of games in the FIBA World Cup in Foshan, China, a tough test for a player who has been grounded for months.
That is why Ravena didn’t waste time using his suspension, not only trying to raise awareness on the use of Performance Enhancing Drugs and banned substances but to also work on other aspects of his game.
“I’m on an 18-month break so I had to find something to make my 18-month off worth it,” he said. “I have to improve something, whether to work on my conditioning or improve my outside shooting which is still a progress.
“I’m pretty sure that with the work that I put in and the extra hours, I’m confident to take the shots. But the most important thing is my conditioning because I’m going to play in a high-level competition which is the FIBA World Cup.
“Kahit nga pag-PBA, kahit MPBL pa yan o kahit anong liga, siyempre high-level competition yan,” he added. “So I have to stay in tip-top shape to be able to compete with the best.”
By the time he suits up on Sunday with the freedom of doing whatever basketball activities he wants, Ravena now enters another challenge of trying to get back to where he was before the FIBA ban.
Or probably better than he was before. (JONAS TERRADO)