By MARK REY MONTEJO
Another historic first is added to Thirdy Ravena’s growing list of achievements after being named as the first-ever Impressive Asia Player of the Year award in the Japan B.League on Friday, May 31.
“From being the first non-Japanese Asian in the league to receiving this award, it’s definitely a full circle moment for me,” Ravena wrote on his Instagram post.
“Not everyone has to believe in you, you just gotta believe in yourself!,” added the high-flying forward who was also the very first Asian Quota import in 2020 and trailblazed the path for Filipino imports to the Japanese league.
The 27-year-old guard took the inaugural plum after helping his former team San-En NeoPhoenix take the Central Conference championship following a 46-14 win-loss card in the regular season
The team, however, got swept in the best-of-three quarters clash by the eventual champions Hiroshima Dragonflies.
Ravena closed out his San-En campaign with an average of 12.6 points, 5 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 1 steals per contest.
Just like his older sibling Kiefer, Thirdy parted ways with the NeoPhoenix ending a four-year tenure to the ball club that had become his home in Japan.
The Ravena brothers joined Kai Sotto, Bobby Ray Parks, Matthew Wright and AJ Edu in the free agency list.
