A Wheeler's Opinion: Kiefer Ravena's 2-Year Delay is Worth it

Former King Eagle finally entering the PBA Draft after 2 years

The Phenom is about to make his much-awaited arrival in the PBA. 

Worry no more, fans of Kiefer Ravena. 

Two years after his final playing season with the Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eagles in the UAAP where he won an MVP award and a couple of championships, he has declared that he is joining the PBA Draft which is scheduled to take place this month. 

Sure, fans would have rejoiced had Kiefer joined the draft right away but trust this basketball pundit in saying that the wait is much more worth it. Why? Right after he hanged his blue and white jersey, the Phenom went to the United States where he explored different opportunities. In fact, he was signed as a developmental player by the Texas Legends, the NBA D-League affiliate of the Dallas Mavericks in the NBA. 

Setting aside his personal ambitions to play in the NBA for the greater need of the country,  he came back home, don the national colors and went on to win his 4th SEA Games gold medal, breaking a 16-year record that was previously held by Rommel Adducul for most number of gold medals won as an individual player. Who doesn't want to have a SEA Games legend in his team? Kiefer, at 23 years of age, without a doubt, remains as one of the highly-touted prospects to watch for in the upcoming draft. 

If anything, Kiefer's grand decision to finally apply for the PBA Draft adds a big amount of talent to a  draft class that already has Bobby Ray Parks Jr., Jeron Teng and, Filipino-German and Gilas Pilipinas big man, Christian Standhardinger. While Standhardinger is poised to be picked as the top pick by the Talk N Text KaTropa as predicted by the mock-up of the draft that was made last July, make no mistake about it, folks. 

Kiefer Ravena will be a top 3 pick, top 5 at max. Assuming that TNT does select Standhardinger, the Kia Picanto are predicted to get two-time UAAP MVP, Ray Parks Jr. and with the 3rd pick in the PBA Draft, the Blackwater Elite will choose the Phenom. 

Now, assuming that the Blackwater Elite selects Ravena in the draft, Ravena is expected to start at the point guard, something he did multiple times during his stints with the Blue Eagles and with the national team. He will be reunited with fellow Ateneo graduate, JP Erram. 

In addition to this, he will be providing much-needed reinforcement especially in the offensive end which is needed especially when Allein Maliksi is struggling to get anything going from his end. If anything, Ravena's recent stint with the Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas during the FIBA Asia Champions Cup, which saw him lead the team in scoring with 20 points per game, is another proof that he is more than PBA-ready. 

Regardless of which team colors, the Phenom will wear come his first PBA game, the rest of the league should watch as the former King Eagle makes his first flight because whether you like him or not, the name Kiefer Ravena has been associated with greatness ever since he was tormenting his opponents in the UAAP- something that Ray Parks Jr. and Jeron Teng have experienced first-hand. And, if you have seen him play with the national team, then you all agree with one simple thing: Kiefer Isaac Crisologo Ravena belongs to the big stage and that big stage is none other than the PBA, with the greatest players that the league has ever seen. 

One bonus of having Kiefer Ravena in the PBA: we may see more of his Queen Phenom, Alyssa Valdez at the game venues during the King Phenom's games.