By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña
Filipino basketball superstar Kiefer Ravena only needed several months to lift his status to the top of the Japan B. League after posting another stellar stat-line in their game against the Toyama Grouses.
Despite the loss, Ravena still led the Shiga Lakestars in a comeback attempt and ended the game with 24 points and 10 assists in just 28 minutes of action.
Before Ravena’s insane double-double performance, the franchise player of the NLEX Road Warriors earlier tied his Japan career-high when he produced 28 points, eight assists, four rebounds, and three steals.
However, Ravena and the Lakestars also lost the showdown against the Thirdy-less San-En NeoPhoenix who was fresh off his Gilas Pilipinas stint for the FIBA February window.
Ravena is currently the no.1 ranked Filipino under the Asian import quota in terms of statistics, overtaking the production of Dwight Ramos, Bobby Ray Parks Jr., Juan Gomez de Liaño, Kobe Paras, and his brother Thirdy.
The former Ateneo Blue Eagle main gunner had notable performances in the league including an insane showdown against Japan national team’s starting point guard and former B. League Most Valuable Player (MVP) Yuki Togashi of the Chiba Jets.
Ravena let everyone know what he was capable of and outdueled Japan’s top point guard during their back-to-back meetings despite the loss when he tallied 14 points and nine assists in the first game and 27 points, 10 assists, and three steals in the second.
On the other hand, Togashi only chipped in 10 points in their first duel but worsened during their second game when he went scoreless for the first time in the season.
Ravena will seek to deliver a much-needed win for the Lakestars when they battle the league’s top squad Ryukyu Golden Kings over the weekend.
