Kiefer Ravena
Kiefer Isaac Crisologo Ravena is a Filipino basketball player for the NLEX Road Warriors of the Philippine Basketball Association. Ravena played for the Ateneo Blue Eagles in the UAAP during his college days. He is playing both guard positions.
The son of former PBA player Ferdinand "Bong" Ravena, Ravena enjoyed a successful high school basketball career at the Ateneo de Manila High School in Loyola Heights, Quezon City where he was recognized as one of the top high school basketball players in the Philippines. Ravena is a three-time UAAP Juniors Champion, two-time UAAP Juniors Finals MVP, two-time UAAP Juniors Mythical Team member, one-time FIBA Asia U-18 Mythical Team member, two-time UAAP Seniors Champion and three-time UAAP Seniors Mythical Team member. He is also the UAAP Season 74 Rookie of the Year and the UAAP Season 77 and 78 Most Valuable Player recipient. At the 2011, 2013, 2015, 2017 and 2019 Southeast Asian Games, he won gold medals as a member of Gilas Pilipinas.
Early life
Kiefer Ravena was born on October 27, 1993 in Iloilo. Ravena's father, Bong Ravena played for the UE Red Warriors and was the 1992 PBA Rookie of the year while his mother, Mozzy Crisologo-Ravena, was a volleyball player who used to play for the UST Golden Tigresses and the Philippines women's national volleyball team. He is the eldest of three siblings. His younger brother Thirdy Ravena is also a varsity basketball player currently playing for the Ateneo Blue Eagles and his younger sister Dani is currently a volleyball player playing for the Ateneo Lady Eagles. In June 2016, he graduated from the Ateneo de Manila University with a Bachelor's degree in Communications Technology Management. During his guesting on the radio show, The Morning Rush, he revealed that he was named after his father's favorite actor, Kiefer Sutherland.High school career
Ateneo Blue Eaglets
Ravena attended the Ateneo de Manila High School and was included on the Ateneo Blue Eaglets team in the UAAP juniors division. He was the first person to play on Team A of the Ateneo Blue Eaglets during his freshman year. He led the Blue Eaglets to 3 consecutive championships during his last 3 years with the team, against the FEU Baby Tamaraws during season 71, the DLSZ Junior Archers in season 72, and the UST Tiger Cubs during season 73. While he was still eligible for the juniors level he won 2 consecutive Finals MVP awards and was part of the Juniors Mythical Team for 2 consecutive years.College career
Ateneo Blue Eagles
Soon after the 73rd season of the UAAP ended, many schools wanted Ravena to play for their Seniors basketball team but he eventually decided to stay with Ateneo and play on their seniors men's basketball team, the Ateneo Blue Eagles.During his stay with Ateneo, Ravena have led the Blue Eagles to four Final Four appearances in 2011, 2012, 2014 and 2015 including two UAAP championships in 2011 and 2012. He also led Ateneo into two PCCL runner-up finishes in 2011 and 2012. Aside from that he also led the Blue Eagles to their first and as of now their only championship in the Filoil Flying V Preseason Hanes Cup in 2011 while leading them to a 3rd-place finish in the same tournament the following year. In 2014, Ravena led Ateneo to their 3rd basketball championship in Unigames.
He has also won many accolades while playing for the Blue Eagles that includes the 2011 Filoil Flying V Preseason Hanes Cup Most Valuable Player Award, UAAP Season 74 Rookie of the Year, UAAP Season 75 Todo Bigay Player of the Year, UAAP Season 77 and 78 Most Valuable Player Award and the 2014 Unigames Most Valuable Player Award. He is also a three-time UAAP Mythical Five member in 2011, 2014 and 2015, two-time FilOil Mythical Five member in 2011 and 2012, one-time PCCL Mythical Five member in 2012 and one-time Unigames Mythical Five member in 2014.
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Aside from the championships and the individual accolades, Ravena also broke some records in the UAAP. On his first ever Ateneo-La Salle game in the UAAP Seniors Division, Kiefer has scored his then-UAAP seniors career best of 24 points which is at that time the second highest individual scoring output in a first half of a game since Dylan Ababou scored 23 points in 2009. In their Final Four match-up against the DLSU Green Archers in Season 75, Ravena had his then-UAAP seniors career best with 28 points to go along with 12 rebounds and 7 assists. On August 10, 2014, he recorded his new career high of 38 points on their come-from-behind overtime win against UE before that his career high was 29 points on their second win of Season 77 against their bitter rival La Salle. The 38 points that he made became the then-second highest points made by a single player in the Final Four era next to the 43 points made by the former NU Bulldog Jeff Napa back in 2002, currently it is the fourth highest scoring output by a single player when Napa's record was surpassed by the 49 points made by UE's Alvin Pasaol and DLSU's Ben Mbala scored 39 points both in 2017. During UAAP Season 77, he also set a new record of most free throws taken by single player in a single game with 25 on their game against UE, he made 19 free throws out of that 25, the previous record was 19 set by another Blue Eagle Chris Tiu in 2008, where he only missed two freethrows. His 77.64 statistical points in season 77 is the highest recorded statistical points made by a single player in one season until it was surpassed by the 92.43 statistical points of La Salle's Mbala in season 79. His 11 assists in their second-round game against the Adamson Falcons in season 78 is the second most assist done by an individual player in the UAAP since 2003, only behind by the 12 assists made by Terrence Romeo against the UE Red Warriors in 2013, tied along with UE's Philip Manalang against the FEU Tamaraws and UP's Juan Gomez de Liaño against UE in 2018 Ravena recorded his season high and second career best of 32 points to go along with 3 rebounds and 2 assists on their second round win against the NU Bulldogs in season 78. His 26 points on the first half is the most points scored by any player in the UAAP, it broke the previous record held by Dylan Ababou who scored 23 points on season 72. Also Ravena is only the third Atenean and 10th player in UAAP history after Allan Caidic, Jun Reyes, Jun Limpot, Dennis Espino, Mark Telan, Don Allado, Rich Alvarez, Arwind Santos and Bobby Ray Parks, Jr. to win back-to-back MVP awards.
Professional career
Semi-professional career
Mighty Sports
On March 1, 2016, Ravena announced that he will be suiting up for Mighty Sports Cavaliers for a chance to hone his skills and at the same time prepare for the 2016 PBA draft. He will be playing alongside former PBA player, TY Tang. On February 4, 2016, he led the Mighty Sports against the Hobe Macway to reclaim the Republica Cup with 20 points.On his debut game in the PCBL for the Mighty Sports, he scored 16 points on top of five assists and three steals on their win against the Jumbo Plastic Linoleum Giants. On May 18, 2016, despite having a jetlag, Ravena still managed to score 17 points to help his team sweep the Euro-Med Laboratory Experts on their best-of-three semi-finals series after missing Game 1 of their semi-finals match-up. On May 22, 2016, he scored 20 points to lead his team to victory in Game 1 of the best-of-three PCBL Finals against the Jumbo Plastics Linoleum Giants. During their Game 2 match-up, against the Linoleum Giants, Ravena who was named the Most Valuable Player, led the Cavaliers with 18 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 steals in a losing effort. He wasn't able to play in Game 3 of their match-up because he went straight to the airport right after Game 2 to catch a flight going to London to attend a celebrity volleyball match and spend time with loved ones.
Texas Legends
On November 10, 2016, Texas Legends of the NBA D-League has announced that they have signed Ravena as a "developmental player", which meant he would only be used for practice sessions and was not part of the official roster. Ravena previously tried out for the Legends but did not join the 2016 D-League draft.Professional career
Alab Pilipinas
On March 1, 2017, Alab Pilipinas officially announced through their social media account that Ravena have already signed to play for the team although he will officially join the team right after he recuperate on the previous injury that he got during the Dubai tournament where he joined. He made his ABL debut during the first game of their best-three semifinals meeting against the Singapore Slingers wherein he scored 16 points on a losing note for Alab. Ravena's stint with Alab ended early when the Slingers defeated them during Game 2 of their best-of-three series wherein he scored 16 points on top of four rebounds and four assists for Alab.NLEX Road Warriors
On October 9, 2017, he announced via Twitter his intention to join the 2017 PBA draft and on October 29, he was drafted 2nd overall by the NLEX Road Warriors. He officially signed a three-year contract deal with the Road Warriors on November 8 that same year.He made his PBA debut on December 19 wherein he recorded 18 points, 12 assists and 7 rebounds in a 119–115 win against the Kia Picanto. On December 25, he scored 20 points on top of 5 assists and 4 steals against the GlobalPort Batang Pier. On December 27, he got his first ever PBA Player of the week award after leading the Road Warriors to two consecutive wins.
Starting May 2018, Ravena had to serve an 18-month ban imposed by FIBA on all basketball-related activities including playing in PBA in relation to him testing positive for a banned substance while playing for the Philippine national team. NLEX expressed support for Ravena stating that he has passed multiple drug tests by the PBA, as well as by the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas and the Games and Amusements Board believing that he took the pre-workout aid which led to the ban without being aware it contained a substance prohibited by FIBA.
National team career
Ravena has also played for the Philippine men's national basketball team. Ravena was part of the 2009 Philippines men's national under-17 basketball squad that was sent to the 2009 FIBA Asia Under-16 Championship wherein they finished 4th place. He was also part of the 2010 Philippines men's national under-19 basketball squad that was sent to the 2010 FIBA Asia Under-18 Championship where they managed to finish in 5th place. Ravena earned the national team caps having played in the 2010 SEABA Under-18 Championship Team wherein they won the coveted gold medal against Malaysia.Ravena has also played for the Sinag Pilipinas team that was sent to the 2011 SEA Games, wherein they managed to win the gold medal against Thailand.
He once again played for the Sinag Pilipinas team that was sent to the 2013 SEA Games that was held in Myanmar from December 11–22 but the basketball event started earlier from December 8–16, the team managed to swept the competition and was automatically declared champions of the tournament.
Ravena was named as the team captain of the Gilas Cadets in 2015 that will compete together with Bobby Ray Parks, Jr., Kevin Ferrer and Marcus Douthit among others at the 2015 SEABA Championship in Singapore. They won the gold medal in that tournament after winning all their games. Their last game was against the host team. That same squad also competed for the Philippines at the 2015 Southeast Asian Games which was held also in Singapore last June 5–16, 2015, wherein they managed to win the gold medal against Indonesia. With these achievement, Ravena became only the second Filipino basketball player to win three straight SEA Games gold medal in basketball after Rommel Adducul did the trick in 1997, 1999 and 2001. On June 27, 2017, it was confirmed by Chot Reyes that Ravena together with Von Pessumal, Bobby Ray Parks, Jr., Kevin Ferrer and Kobe Paras among others will again play for the Philippines for the 2017 William Jones Cup in Taiwan where they finished in 4th place. The same team was also sent in the 2017 Southeast Asian Games where they successfully defended their title. With these, Ravena became the first Filipino basketball player to win a record fourth straight SEA Games gold medal in basketball.
On September 19, 2017, it was announced that Ravena along with Jeron Teng, Jeric Teng, LA Revilla, Carl Bryan Cruz, Almond Vosotros, Norbert Torres and Isaiah Austin among others will be part of the national team which will compete as Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas at the 2017 FIBA Asia Champions Cup in China, wherein they finished the tournament in fifth place.
In November 2017, Ravena was named as part of the Gilas Pilipinas line-up that will compete at the 2019 FIBA World Cup qualifiers against Japan and Chinese Taipei. In February 2018, he was again included to compete against Australia and on their second meeting against Japan. In November 2019, he was again named to the national team that will represent the Philippines to the 2019 SEA Games, wherein he won his fifth straight gold medal.
3x3 basketball
National 3x3 team
Along with Jeron Teng, Bobby Ray Parks Jr., and Kevin Ferrer, Ravena competed at the 2013 FIBA Asia 3X3 Championship as part of the Philippine national 3x3 team.Ravena represented the Philippines in the 2017 FIBA 3x3 World Cup on June 17 to 21, 2017 in Nantes, France. They finished the tournament at 11th place.
Other FIBA-sanctioned tournaments
Ravena then led the Team Philippines to a win against Team Qatar on an exhibition game at the 2015 FIBA 3x3 All-Stars which was held between the Dunk Contest and All-Stars finals of the tournament in Doha, Qatar on December 10, 2015. He was joined by Jeron Teng of La Salle, as well as Nigerian imports Ola Adeogun of San Beda and Bright Akhuetie of Perpetual. They were coached by Coach Eric Altamirano, head coach of the NU Bulldogs. Aside from representing Team Philippines, Ravena was also chosen as one of the members of the jury at the 2015 FIBA All-Stars Dunk contest.Ravena again represented Team Philippines in an exhibition game held during the FIBA 3X3 World Tour Final this time with Karl Dehesa, Paolo Hubalde and Jayson Castro. The event took place in Abu Dhabi, UAE wherein they were defeated by the host team.
Suspension
On May 22, 2018, Ravena was suspended by FIBA for 18 months in all basketball-related activities. He was tested positive for methylhexanamine, 1,3-Dimethylbutylamine and higenamine, substances prohibited by WADA. Urine samples were taken after the Philippines vs Japan game at Manila during the 2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup qualification. Ravena explained that he consumes a pre-workout drink called C4, which can be bought from retailers around Metro Manila. He ran out of supplies shortly before a training camp in Australia and took Blackstone Labs DUST, a supplement which is mixed with water and is supposedly similar to C4. FIBA attributed the violation to Ravena's lack of anti-doping education.Prior to the suspension, Ravena is scheduled to play in the Visayas leg of the PBA All-Star in Iloilo City. However, Ravena was quickly pulled out by the SBP and head back to Manila. PBA Commissioner Willie Marcial didn't divulge further details on why he was pulled out form the game. There were speculations circulating that Ravena have tested positive on performance-enhancing drug.
The PBA has yet to test its players for substances prohibited by FIBA although it has previously sanctioned players for illegal substances such as marijuana and methamphetamine.
Career statistics
UAAP
Off the court
On February 10, 2015, it was announced that Ravena will star in his first ever sitcom entitled No Harm, No Foul that was aired on TV5. His co-stars will include PBA Superstars Willie Miller, Gary David and Beau Belga together with Eula Caballero, Sophie Albert, Valeen Montenegro, Tuesday Vargas, Yoyong Martirez, Long Mejia, Randy Santiago and Ogie Alcasid. The show premiered last July 5, 2015 and ended on October 18 on the same year with a total of 16 episodes.Ravena also starred in his own reality show called Phenoms together with his fellow Atenean and girlfriend Alyssa Valdez, who is a 3-time UAAP volleyball MVP and former team captain of the Ateneo Lady Eagles. The first season aired from August 24 to November 22, 2015 on TV5 and on its official website. In December 2015, it was confirmed that the show will be back for its second season which started on June 17, 2016 and ended on September 9, 2016.