Thirdy Ravena played limited minutes in his return after recovering from COVID-19 as San-En Neophoenix snapped an eight-game skid in Japan’s B.League with an 83-69 road win over Levanga Hokkaido.
Ravena scored five points on 2-of-6 shooting with three rebounds and two assists in almost 19 minutes as the Neophoenix improved to 3-17 in the game held at the Hokkaido Prefectural Sports Center in Sapporo.
The 23-year-old donned the Neophoenix jersey after missing the last three games due to a positive COVID-19 test last Nov. 27.
Read: Thirdy Ravena tests positive for COVID-19
He underwent a two-week quarantine at his apartment in Toyohashi before being cleared to rejoin San-En’s practice in time for the two weekend matches with Hokkaido.
The two teams face off again Sunday afternoon at the same venue, with Serbian coach Branislav Vicentic possibly giving Ravena more playing minutes.
Imports Kyle Hunt and Stevan Jelovac scored 22 and 21 points for San-En, which won for the first time since Nov. 7 when Ravena made his debut in the 83-82 defeat of Shimane Susanoo Magic.
Vicentic opted to use Ravena for just 4 1/2 minutes in the first half that saw the Neophoenix take a 41-26 lead over Hokkaido at the break.
Ravena got plenty of action late in the second half after the Neophoenix widened the gap to a high of 30.