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Manila Bulletin devider Sports devider Basketball devider Brothers Kiefer and Thirdy clash in B.League opener

Brothers Kiefer and Thirdy clash in B.League opener

Published Oct 2, 2021 09:31 am

Brothers Thirdy (left) and Kiefer Ravena

A good start and bragging rights will be at stake when Thirdy Ravena and the San-En Neophoenix go on the road to face older brother Kiefer and the Shiga Lakestars to highlight the start of the much-anticipated campaign for Filipino players in Japan’s B.League Saturday, Oct. 2.

The Ravena-Ravena encounter is scheduled at 5:05 p.m. local time (4:05 p.m. Philippine time) as the brothers are among the five Filipinos who will see action in the first weekend of the 2021-22 season.

Kobe Paras is set to become the first to start his campaign as Niigata Albirex hosts the Kyoto Hannaryz at 2:05 p.m. (1:05 p.m. Philippine time) while Ray Parks Jr. begins his stint with the Nagoya Diamond Dolphins opposite the Shibuya Sun Rockers in Tokyo at 6 p.m. (5 p.m.)

READ: Japan B.League preview: Eight players ready to showcase Pinoy talent in Land of the Rising Sun

Juan Gomez de Liano will suit up for the Earthfriends Tokyo Z against the host Kagawa Five Arrows in the B.League’s second division also at 6 p.m. (5 p.m. Philippine time).

Dwight Ramos of the Toyama Grouses and Javi Gomez de Liano of the Ibaraki Robots along with Kemark Carino for the Aomori Wat’s in the second-tier division won’t be playing this weekend as they had yet to complete the mandatory 14-day quarantine required for arriving passengers.

Carino already missed his team’s season debut Friday, Oct. 1 which saw the Wat’s suffer a 91-73 away defeat to the Fukuoka Rizing Zephyr.

Both Ravenas said they couldn’t wait for their sibling rivalry to spill in the Land of the Rising Sun starting with the first of the two-game set in Shiga.

“I’m definitely excited to play against my brother,” said Thirdy in a video interview posted on the Neophoenix’s Facebook page. “It’s gonna be the first time ever that we’re gonna face each other in an official game so I wonder what it's gonna look like.”

Thirdy is also eager to begin his second season in Japan on a bright note, especially after his rookie campaign was limited to just 18 games due to injuries and a COVID-19 infection.

For Kiefer, he’ll enter the sibling matchup that looked like a long shot months earlier when the PBA initially barred his signing with the Lakestars owing to his live pact with the NLEX Road Warriors.

The PBA eventually gave its blessing for Kiefer to proceed with his Shiga stint in time for his duel with Thirdy.

“For me, the sibling rivalry of Thirdy and I goes way back when we were kids playing in the house, playing basketball. Just enjoying our time together,” he said. “But now, it’s a different level. We’re playing professional basketball, and we both want to win for our teams.

“It’s gonna be really exciting. I’m proud of what he achieved. I’m sure the family is proud of what’s about to happen.”

The game will be shown live through cable sports channel Tap Sports with online streaming available through the Tap Go app.

Tap Digital Media Ventures, which signed a broadcast deal with the B.League, said it will air 51 matches including faceoff between teams with Filipino cagers throughout the season.

Related Tags

Kiefer Ravena Thirdy Ravena Japan B.League
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